pretty baby

Doooooone

2005-11-29T00:19:53Z

50,073 / 50,000
(100.1%)

Chapter 34

Lesk could feel the cuffs getting slick with her blood. Just a little more she thought. Just a little more.

“I thought you two had figured it all out. Going to SPO like that. Naughty Lesk. How did you like my punishment? Your mother was a whore. I had to wear my gloves for her. She kept crying and begging. Disgusting I tell you. When I killed her she begged me not to hurt you. Funny little bitch. Mean as a snake to you but her last wish was that you live. Ironic, isn’t it?”

Lesk could feel tears. Hot tears. Sliding down her face. Burning her.

“When I knew you were coming I just had to make everything ready for you. Blew SPO up. Crisp fried those science geeks right before you came.”

That must be why it took her so long to answer the door she thought.

“Stayed just a tad bit too long. The screaming you know? Had to stay for the screaming. And I took a little souvenir.” She giggled, holding up a small vial.

“It’s the new experiment. Supposed to be better, stronger. Faster too. Soon you’ll be just like me. We can kill him together you and I. Daddies little boy.” She wiggled the vial, yellow sludge sloshing over the side. Then she looked at Samaj and cocked her head to the side. A subtle pout developed on her face, looking odd on such an old woman.

“But that’s not fun. And I want to have fun right now. Let’s say you and me have a date first, eh? Then we can play together. With the girl and your daddy?” Her eyes sparkled unnaturally.

Lesk remembered then, seeing her at the church. She’d always been only to happy to have her devil exposed and conquered. She saw the same light then that she’d seen before.

Lesk gasped as Augusta got a sharp knife out. The blade glinting under the dim lights. She wondered why that blade seemed to be the only thing Augusta had that wasn’t stained with blood. Augusta brought the blade to her mouth, licking it quickly. Almost catlike. She drew it over her arm.

“Me first. Then it’s like were blood brothers. You’ll be a part of me.” She hissed and drove the knife through her flesh, cutting the skin. She brought the knife to her mouth again and licked. Lesk shuddered, jerking harder on her hands. Almost there she thought.

Augusta smeared some of her blood on Samaj’s mouth. Lesk saw his eyes go blank. The whites showing in clear relief. She cut his arm a little, giggling as he screamed. Lesk got her right hand out, wincing at the feel of raw flesh. She used her right hand to pry her left hand out.

Her legs were connected to a single chain but it was tied loosely rather than locked. Confident, Lesk thought. She carefully, slowly, got up. Samaj, spotting her, screamed louder to cover the noise. Lesk picked up a piece of pipe on the table in the middle of the room, holding down her urge to gag as she viewed the red stains on it, vowing not to thing about what it had been used for. She brought it up behind Augusta, picturing her mother in her mind’s eye, and hit her on the back of the head as hard as she could. Gagging at the sound of metal hitting flesh. She heard a coughing sound and then Augusta went down. Lesk hit her again, hard. She was swinging to hit her again when Samaj screamed “No! She’s down. Just get me the hell out of here! Now Lesk!”

He wolf howled. It wanted to kill. It wanted to hurt this woman as she had hurt so many others. As she had hurt Samaj. If it was up to the wolf she’d be down there right now, trying to slit the bitch’s throat with her fingernails. Samaj caught her eye, his expression pleading, frantic.

Lesk looked down at Augusta, dropping the pipe. She got the keys from Augusta’s belt, unlocked Samaj’s chains. He fell forward and she draped him over her shoulders. She could hardly lift him but after what she’d been through he deserved to be carried she thought.

Struggling she dragged him out of the building. She could hear sirens in the distance. A car pulled up into the driveway as she finally got Samaj out of the barn. She looked around for a place to hide him and herself. No where to hide. Damn.

She gently put him on the ground, grabbing a tree limb. Not as sophisticated as a pipe bit it will do. She stood in front of him, brandishing the limb.

She saw the car pull up and laughed with relief. It was Fox. Fox in his crappy car. Her knight in shining steel. She fell to the ground laughing. It was either that or sobbing.

Fox ground the car to a skidding stop in front her, spraying gravel. He leapt out of the car and ran to her side.

“What the fuck?!” His eyes moved to Samaj’s cuts. To her bloody wrists. She could feel herself going under, the loss of blood making her woozy.

“It was her Fox. She killed them all. She wanted to kill us. But I hit her. I hit her. I think she’s dead. I hope she is. Wait . . don’t go in there Fox!” She screamed at him as he ran towards the barn. She didn’t want him to see Suz. What was left of her. Those blue eyes he’d talked so much about. She lay near Samaj, exhausted. She couldn’t stop him. She hadn’t the energy. She heard a primal scream and a thud. Then another. Fox must have found the pipe.

Lesk closed her eyes. Maybe it was justice. But Fox shouldn’t have done it. That kind of thing got into your soul. He’d never be the same. She put her head over Samaj’s chest, finding comfort in the thump thump of his heart. She thought she might love him. She whispered it against his chest, wanting him to know before she died. She’d felt like it was her screaming when Augusta had cut him. She’d have rather it had been her skin that was cut. She was glad that at least she’d saved him. And that she’d given her mother what she’d owed her. Justice. Her vision went dark.

Chapter 35

Lesk woke up in a hospital room. Again. She hated that. At first she saw all the white and thought that she’d died and landed in heaven. Heaven shouldn’t smell like mothballs and antiseptic though.

Or at least she hoped not. Her throat felt raw. She moved her head stiffly, holding her hands up. The wrists were bandaged like a mummy. Not heaven she thought, more like hell. She spent too much time in these places.

The door opened and the same doctor she’d seen before walked in. “You need to find a new line of work young lady, I’m seeing you way too much. Or is that on purpose?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes. She tried to speak and what came out sounded more like a croak than a word. He lifted a cup of water to her mouth, gently placing the straw inside.

“You sure did a number on your throat? Eh? But worse was your wrists.” He slowly unwrapped her right wrist and she had to wince at the sight. It looked like raw hamburger to her. The skin scraped raw.

“You’re a brave girl. I think you’ll be fine now. Just rest the voice and we’ll keep on treating these wrists.” he rewrapped her wrists in fresh bandages.

“How long?” She managed to croak at him.

“Since you’ve been here. The police found you kids two days ago and brought you here.”

“Sam?”

“The boy? He’s fine. Superficial cuts only. We let him out after the first day.” He replied. He patted her on the head and went to leave.

“By the way, you have a visitor. He’s been frantic to speak with you.” He said, with a smile.

He left the room but the door stayed open. She wondered who it was. Hoping it was Fox. Or Samaj. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see Samaj now. She still remembered watching him get hurt while she was helpless. Remembered him screaming. And then there were the feelings she’d finally admitted to. Feeling she didn’t want to have. They complicated her life, made her scared. More scared than when her mother had died. More scared than when she’d been on stage that final time, sweating as she watched the expectant faces. Shaking, terrified.

The door opened wider and it wasn’t Samaj. It wasn’t Fox. It was a middle aged man. His shoulders were broad. She had to look up very high to see his face. It was weathered, like tough leather. His shaggy hair was brown and liberally sprinkled with grey. It was his eyes that caught her attention. They were the same color as her’s. They looked so sad. Why is he sad she wondered, trying to sit up.

He was holding the doorsill with a tight grip, as if afraid to walk inside. She looked at his hand, something jarring her memory. It was the ring. His wedding ring. She’d seen it before. On her father’s hand.

She felt a lump develop in her throat. Her eyes burning.

“Daddy?” she croaked, unable to believe it was really him.

“Yes. It’s me. Dad.” He coughed awkwardly saying the last part. The dad part. She opened her arms and he strode forward. She felt his arms go around her in a near bone crushing hug.

“I missed you little girl.” He whispered fiercely.

“I missed you too Daddy. You were gone for so long.” She cried.

“Your mom never let me visit. Said she would leave and take you somewhere that I could never find you.”

“But where were you when they were looking for you? After mom . . died?”

“Actually, I was lost.” He said sheepishly. “Went backpacking and got myself pretty darned lost out there. When I did finally manage to find a village it had no phones or lines of communication. And I had no money so I had to stay and work off my fair for a trip to the nearest town that had a phone.”

“Daddy you are way too old to be doing stuff like that!”

“You’re gonna have to come to live with me then. So you can take care of me?” He replied, grinning sheepishly.

They fell into a comfortable if rusty routine. Both of them unused to talking to each other. They’d been apart for so long. She knew that they wouldn’t ever get back to where they’d stopped. Many years had gone by since then and they were different people now. When she looked in his eyes she still saw the father that had once been her world. And the man who had disappointed her so much. She hoped they’d be able to have a relationship. They had lots of time to mend what was broken.

She made him leave after a few hours. He had to sleep sometime.

“Daddy you can’t camp out here in the hospital. Go to your hotel for the night. I’ll call you if I need you. Please? It would make me feel better.” She wheedled. He looked tired and she wanted him to get the rest. Hopefully they could leave soon. She wanted to get this town behind her. He finally, reluctantly, left.

She sat alone in the hospital room, thinking. She hadn’t asked about Augusta. She knew what happened to her and if the police had any sense of justice they’d leave Fox alone. She’d testify to self defense or something she thought. She was drifting off to sleep when she heard the door creak open. She opened one eye as the dark form shuffled into her room. She gasped in fright until she saw the light hit him. Samaj. He looked beaten up, his face bruised. His left eye swollen shut.

“Sam?”

“Tree Girl.” He knelt next to her bed, taking hold of her hand.

“What happened Sam?”

“The police came after Fox . . after he went into the barn. I think they’ll rule it self defense. The cops don’t seem to want to do anything but close the case.”

“Is Fox okay?”

“I think so. He’s different.” He looked down at her hand. She was sad about Fox. She’d call him before she left town she thought. Make sure he at least went to therapy. He’d need it.

“So she’s dead?”

“Yeah. I went back into the barn before they took us away to make sure. I had to make sure.” He swallowed nervously.

“Your dad?”

“I talked to him. I don’t think I can ever forgive him Lesk. He said he only went into it for knowledge. He hadn’t meant to hurt anyone and he’d quit after the thing with Augusta.”

She stroked his hair. “But when I look at him now, I see her face. Her eyes . . as she cut into me. That room.” He whispered.

Lesk shuddered at the memory, the thin stitches on his arm and cheek reminders. She hoped it wouldn’t scar much. She knew about scars.

“I think he’s a good man Samaj. He did something wrong. He did something a monster would do. He tried to make it up though. He tried to make it right. It wasn’t his fault that it wasn’t enough. Did you see my Dad?” she whispered.

“Yeah. He seemed like a nice guy. He tried to punch that detective when he insinuated you and I might be involved.”

Lesk giggled at the thought, a giggle that turned into a cough.

“You okay L?”

“Yeah Sam. I think I am.” She looked into his eyes until he looked away.

“I heard what you said L. I won’t hold you to it. Being a near death experience and all.” he mumbled, his head down. She lifted his head into her hand and kissed him as hard as she could, until she could taste blood. She jerked back, smiling sheepishly.

“No, it’s okay L.” He said, kissing her on the cheek.

They sat in the dark, not having to say anything and Lesk thought that was just fine. Just fine.

Chapter 36
The police came as she was waking up, asking her questions about Augusta. She told them just what happened, omitting the part about Fox. They agreed it was a case of self defense and suggested not so subtly that she may want to leave town.

She didn’t have to be told twice. She’d leave this place of decay and despair. Leave and not come back. Except maybe, once. She’d come back for one thing.

Her father came in after them, asking her concernedly if they’d upset her. She told him they hadn’t. And asked when they could leave.

“You mean you want to come live with me?”

“Yes Dad. I want to.” she told him. She asked him if they could get glow in the dark wallpaper for her room. She wanted roses. Yellow roses. She’d look at them and remember the best parts, discard the rest.

He laughed and promised her she could have whatever she wanted in her room as long as she wanted. Then they heard a soft knock at the door, a sheepish looking Fox peered at them.

“Hi Fox!” She was glad to see him. He looked as though he’d been in a war. On the losing side. Her father took a look at her face and excused himself so they could be alone.

Fox pulled up a chair near her hospital bed and she sat up to talk to him.

“You okay Fox?”

He rubbed his hands over his eyes. “Not really.” he said. “They don’t seem to want to put me in jail for it but I . . killed someone. You know? I can’t forget it. I’m having these nightmares now. All the time.”

She nodded. She had them too. Except in her dreams she didn’t escape. In her dreams she was still awake as that madwoman cut on her flesh.

“Do you regret it Fox?”

“That’s the thing.” He replied, laughing a little. “I don’t. I’d do it again. And again. She deserved it. Suz deserved justice.” He had tears in his eyes now.

“Fox . . I think you need to see someone.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. Usually she hated therapists. But for many they helped with the pain. Fox would be one of those she thought.

“Maybe. I’m graduating in a couple of months. I think what I need is to get out of here.”

“Yeah. My Dad’s taking me to live with him tomorrow. Maybe you can look me up there?” She smiled, knowing he probably wouldn’t. He’d put this all behind him. Go to college. Meet some nice girl from a nice family. She wished him the best, waving as he left her hospital room.

The next day her father arrived in a red pickup truck. She remembered him having it when she’d been a kid. She’d dubbed it cherry cherry after the song. She laughed at the memory. Of riding in it, listening to country music and sitting next to her father. She’d always scooted into the middle spot no matter how many people were in the truck. The smell of cigarettes and cherry slushie that she’d spilled on the seat once and had never came out.

“We have to go one more place before we leave Dad.” She told him, giving him directions. She had to do one more thing. Then she’d say goodbye to this place.

He agreed and they soon arrived at the house. Some kids had toilet papered the gates around it. She frowned at the waving strands of white. Assholes. They drove inside and she asked her father to wait for her.

She rang the doorbell and waited a minute or so for it to open. When it didn’t she pushed it open and spotted him right away. Mr. West sat in his kitchen. His head on the table.

“Mister West?” she called out. His head raised and she winced at the redness in his eyes. He’d aged in the few days since she’d last seen him. He almost looked like he’d gotten shorter, had sunk into himself.

“Samaj told me what you said about me. Thanks.” He said, getting up. She nodded at him and stood before him.

“I just wanted to thank you. For the home. And the way you treated me. I appreciated it.” She said. He might be a bad man, but it looked like he would pay for it. She wanted to remember him as he’d been before. For how he’d treated her. She wanted to leave him with that, so she’d have to regrets.

He looked like he was about to say something. He swallowed. And then said simply “You’re welcome.” She held out her hand and shook his. Then she went upstairs one last time. Stopping in her room, smiling again at the wallpaper. She took down her posters and gathered up her meager possessions. She heard someone come in as she did it, but she kept on. She knew who it was. He helped her gather her stuff and bring it downstairs to her father’s truck. They loaded it into the back and she stood on the porch looking at him.

“Dad wrote down my address and phone number for you. So we can call. And email. Until you come.” she said, handing him the paper.

He stroked her cheek, her scarred cheek. She stood still, willing herself not to flinch. He took her hand holding it tightly, forcing her to look in his eyes.

“I’ll come L. I promise.” he said hoarsely.

“You’d better. You don’t want me to hunt you down.” She teased.

She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He tasted sweet, like peppermints. She’d have to order a whole tin of them when she got home she thought. She hugged him tightly and got into the truck. As they left he ran up beside the truck, following them until they were past the gate.

She looked for him until they were long past the distance where she could see him. They drove away and she could feel her soul getting lighter the farther they got away. And heavier as well.

Epilogue
3 years later

Lesk put up the final rose in her new apartment. She stood back, looking satisfied at the result. Her own place. Finally. Her Dad had given her a little grief about it but she’d insisted. She’d been going to college for two years now, it was time she set out on her own. She wasn’t a little girl now and she needed space. Privacy. He’d been mad, but she’d worn him down. He never could deny her much she mused.

It was a great big loft apartment on the fifth floor of the building. So big and roomy, she loved it. The wood floors, the smell of pine. The skylight, bright and sunny. On her first day here she’d worn an old pair of her father’s socks and skidding back and forth on the wood floor, listening to old pop songs very loudly, giggling.

There were mirrors everywhere. On every space of the walls. She’d started collecting them not long after coming to live with her father. Mirrors of all shaped and sizes. When she’d run out of wall space she’d built cabinets for them, leaned them up against the foot of the walls. Some would call it vanity. Lesk liked to call it reality. Those mirrors reminded her that her reality may be ugly but as long as you looked at it with open eyes, it could never be hidden. It couldn’t hurt you. She would never hide from it again.

She looked around, feeling content. That first year had been hard. She hadn’t known how to deal with her father and he hadn’t known what to do with her. But they’d learned. And now they were really close. She loved him best. She’d had to discard that ideal of him she’d held in her mind for so long and meet the real man. With flaws just like everyone else. Just human. And he’d had to deal with her as an adult, as a woman. Not the little girl he remembered her as. They’d both come out of it fine. He’d even paid to have her mother’s body moved and shipped to where they lived. He’d given her a real plot and vowed to bring her flowers for the rest of his life. Lesk had gone with him once. She thought she’d made peace with her. Maybe not forgiven her, she didn’t know if she ever could. But her mother was dead, there was no use staying angry at someone who could never hurt you again.

SPO had been no more. The offices destroyed by Augusta. Nothing more had been done to them, the town didn’t want any more negative press. It was reported as an accident. The serial killer story had been harder to suppress. The press had eventually forgotten it but every once in a while Lesk would get a call from a reporter. She usually hung up. What she’d been through was not for them to know. If the families of the girls ever called her she would tell them. They deserved to know.

Then there was college, which was both harder and easier than she’d thought it would be. Her test scores had gotten her into a fairly good college. Her father had encouraged her to accept the offer. She’d chosen instead to go to a smaller art school to follow her passion instead. The work was challenging and hard. She loved it. Had branched into sculpture and different mediums. She still enjoyed painting best though. The feel of the brush, the colors. She’d even put out a graphic novel about her childhood with her own art. It was a small press print. She thought her dad had bought out almost all of the copies.

The students had accepted her. Not right away but as she’d shown her art and learned to speak up in class they’d seen she was normal. Or as close as. She’d even gained some friends. Good friends. She smiled at the thought of them. All artists. Crazy as hell. She loved them.

Last she’d heard of Fox he was the star of his school’s swim team. Engaged to a very nice girl. A very nice blond girl. She’d reminded Lesk a little of Suz. He’d written once or twice. Then the letters had stopped and she hadn’t spoken to him since.

She strode into her kitchen, taking the warming meatloaf out of the oven. The biscuits came out next. She stirred the mashed potatoes again even though she’d just stirred them. She paced the apartment, nervously. Waiting for the buzz of the doorbell. She almost jumped out of her skin as she finally heard it. Or had she imagined it?

She stood in the middle of the room, debating. Had she heard a noise? She slowly walked to the door to test. Put her hand over the peephole so she couldn’t see who it was before she opened the door. She gingerly opened it. Looked up, catching sight of orange hair. She threw the door open, smiling as widely as she possibly could.

“What took you so long?”

33

2005-11-26T01:33:02Z

45,680 / 50,000
(91.4%)

There was water running somewhere. A steady drip drip of liquid hitting something. Lesk raised her head, trying to get up. But she couldn’t. She was bound, tied to something. All she could see was a blurry veil. Her arms were down or she’d have rubbed her eyes. She settled for blinking until her eyes regained their focus. She was strapped to the wall. Her arms chained to the sides. Her legs chained to pillars in the wall. She looked up and saw Samaj across from her, in much the same position.

Then she remembered Miss Augusta. The drugged lemonade. Who the hell drugs lemonade she thought? A spinster serial killer that’s who. You might as well bake some fucking sugar cookies and poison them. She took refuge in her anger. It helped her not to be scared. Because right now she knew she was probably going to die. The crazy bitch was going to come back and kill her like she killed the other girls.

Her life flashed before her eyes like you saw in the movies. So cliche, but painful too. She’d spent most of it drugged, crazy, or both. The things she’d done. Some of them good, honest. Most of them horrible. She regretted never trying. Never taking that leap into the unknown. She stared over at Samaj. He was still knocked out. She must have put more in his because he was a boy.

Lesk ran the scene over and over again in her head, cursing her stupidity. Why the hell didn’t I see it? She knew all the girls, we were even coming over to question her about them. Why didn’t I take better care of him? She knew it was her fault he was going to die. For his sake, she hoped it happened before it woke up. Knowing that psycho though, she didn’t hold out much hope for that.

Pain excited her. She could see that now, remember it in the look she gave her before she succumbed to the drugs. A bright, alive look. The kind she never had in school. A look of pleasure, enjoyment. Said the spider to the fly.

She’d avoided looking around the barn because she could smell it. She remembered that smell. Flesh and blood. Bone. That alive smell you could only get from fresh meat. Sweat, fear, desperation. Pain beyond bearing. She smelled it up close and personal before. That pain had a scent. When she’d torn into her own flesh she could smell it so sharp she could almost taste it.
Then she’d started choking on her own blood.

She breathed and looked. Then closed her eyes shut again. Tight. As if she could fuse the flesh together so she never had to see again. It was a room of nightmares. Of terror beyond anything. An evil that went so deep. An insanity that you could feel. Reach out your hands and touch the slimy feeling. Go completely insane. She felt a scream trapped in her throat. Once she’d started she’d never stop.

A table had been placed in the very middle of the room. Much like an operating table. It was once a brown color. A nice oak table. It was covered with a rusty red stain. Literally covered. Every inch was red. Some blots bigger than others. Lesk could see that it had never been cleaned. Little pieces of flesh. Of bone. Stuck to it with a glue of blood and fluids. She gagged thinking of what else was on that table. Chunks of things she didn’t even want to imagine. Attached to the table were chains like the ones attached to Lesk. They too were covered with the rusty stains.

Next to the big table were two smaller tables. The first held tools. Surgical tools made of metal. Sharp, pointy. Blades that were rusty and covered with the same gore that the table was. Dentists tools. Lesk recognized them from her oh so exciting visits to her dentist. She didn’t even want to imagine why those were needed. The other table held jars. Of things. Lesk tried to shut her eyes again, knowing once she looked she would never forget it. Her eyes looked of their own volition. The first jar held a pair of eyes. Bright blue eyes in fluid. Floating. Staring at her. Suz she thought. Jesus. They belonged to Suz. Fox would be so sad if he ever found out.

The second jar held a piece of flesh unrecognizable to her. It was pink. Small. She searched her mind through her memories of biology. It looked like a . . voice box? Grace’s voice. Shit. She felt her eyes burning but looked on anyway. The third jar held a hand. Small. So small. All of them were too small she thought. Why would you kill someone for something so small?

And the fourth. She gagged again, puking a little on her shirt. It was a heart. Smaller than you’d think. A heaving mass of flesh, veins standing out. Floating in goo, bobbing. She’d cut out her heart. Fuck.

She could feel her eyes roll back in her head, her terror unending. Huge. She breathed, trying not to vomit again. She heard a small noise and shuddered. Samaj had woken up, his eyes wild as he saw what she had seen. She caught his eyes, watching them roll.

“Sam?” she whispered, in case Augusta was near. She didn’t want her to hear her talking.

Samaj shook and tried to jerk his chains loose. They wouldn’t budge. He looked at the table again, slamming his head against the wall.

“Sam no. Stop! You have to think clearly. She is going to come back. Any minute now she will come back. For us. Breath. Breath.” She whispered furiously.

His eyes were wide, like a wild horse’s but he’d stopped banging his head against the wall. She could see his chest move up and down as he breathed, following her instructions.

“We need to think of some way to get out Sam. Or we will end up like them.” she said, wanting to believe they could find some way out.

“Out.” He said, trying to breath again, trying not to look at the table.

Lesk looked at his chains. They were connected to a wooden pillar like her’s. He wouldn’t be able to get out of his. His hands were too big. But she’d always had really tiny hands. She pulled and felt no give. She kept pulling, feeling twinges of pain as the skin on her wrists was rubbed raw. She kept pulling, jerking.

“Awake are we? Oh my dearies! What fun! I always like an audience.” Augusta had come into the barn. Lesk stopped wiggling, hoping she wouldn’t notice the droplets of blood on her hands.

Augusta was dressed in the same clothes she had received them in, except she was wearing a large plastic apron. Stained like the table. Like the floor. She collects blood, uses it to fuel her memories Lesk though, disgusted.

“So pretty. Pity about those scars but by the time I’m done with you you’ll hardly notice them dearie.” Augusta stood in front of her, her breath smelling of decay. She touched the skin on Lesk’s face, smiling at her terror. Enjoying her squirming.

“You’ll be a fun one won’t you? But you’ll scream. They all do.”

She left Lesk to walk in front of Samaj. Lesk could see his eyes roll again, his panic a living thing. A breathing monster in the room. Augusta was breathing it in, like ambrosia.

“A pity about the boy. I hate messing with boys. So trashy. So dirty. Your disgusting, you little bastard!” She screamed at him, spit flying on his face. She cocked her arm back and hit him as hard as she could. Lesk resumed pulling on her wrists, feeling them bleeding more, the blood allowing her hands to slip further along.

“See? Look what you made me do? I can’t damage you. You won’t be like me if I hurt you too much. And that’s his punishment. I’ll do to you what he did to me. Then he didn’t like me anymore. But he likes you doesn’t he?” Augusta gently stroked his face, enjoying his shudders of horror as she’d enjoyed Lesk’s.

“You don’t even know do you? I think I’ll tell you. Tell you both. Then you can see. I’m not crazy. This is perfectly logical. You’ll see.” Augusta’s eyes had calmed. She got a chair from the middle of the room. Near the tables. The chair had a few stains on it like the table had. Augusta daintily sat on the chair, facing Sam.

“It was your Dad you know? It all started there. I was in college, working on my Masters degree when he came. Offered me an opportunity. To help the world. In the name of science. I believed him, volunteered for the study. At first it was great. I took the drugs, worked with your Dad. I even came to admire him. He was married then too. But he teased me, led me on. Forget that. That’s not important. Not important.” She slammed her fingers over her faces, slapping the thoughts away.

Augusta sat back, breathing again. Breathing hard.

“Men are not to be trusted. Dirty.” She said, calming down some. “My senses were getting better. I could hear things. See things. Know things. I was stronger, faster, smarter. Smarter than them. They tested me. Tested how sharp those senses were. Hurt. It hurt so much. I’ll teach you about that later. Show you the pain. After months of that something changed. I changed. I started to enjoy it. Enjoy the pain. More than that, I wanted to cause it. My pleasure doubled then as I killed their animals first. Then I killed one of them, played with his insides as he was still alive. Writhing. Laughing at him as he begged, pleaded. They said I was wrong. That something had gone wrong. I knew they were scared of me. I was stronger than them, smarter than them. They couldn’t handle it. Your father had them lock me up. Tried to put me down like a fucking dog. I didn’t die obviously.” She laughed, her tone grating on Lesk’s ears.

“I escaped them and settled here. It was easy. Oh so easy. Just find some poor unsuspecting teacher and kill her, chop her up and feed her to the pigs. Then become her. I settled in this town because it was so close to the office. Felt like home you know? I knew your dear old dad would eventually move into the house they’d bought him. But I thought he’d still work for them. He quit. Because of you. What do you know? The old man grew a conscience! That’s so funny. So fucking funny. He thought that if he saved you, he’d save himself. Didn’t work did it? But who wants to talk about your bastard of a father? Back to me! I liked teaching at first. Power. Power is nice. The children are what got me. Such selfish little bitches. They had it all. Had everything. Wasted it. Such fucking waste. Then I had the idea. If I could take what made them great from them, maybe I could fix it. Fix what your father broke inside me. Make the voices stop. And it was so much fun. Girls are so fragile, so easy to break.” She got up and walked to the table, stroking the stains. She lifted the jars up, rubbing them against her face.

“Mmmmm.... once I took what I wanted they were garbage. I disposed of them as such. Filthy bitches. And Lesk? She’s the last piece. The last part. Once I have her brain, I’ll have everything.”

Lesk felt a scream building up, frantically trying to jerk her hands loose.

“You’ll still be awake when I take it you know? I like them to be awake. Makes it so much more fun. First the boy.” Augusta said, turning towards Samaj again.

“I’m gonna give you what your father gave me. Won’t hurt little man. Not a bit. That’s for later.” She tapped his cheek, harder. And then harder until she was slapping him, laughing as she did it.

Have to get free. Have to get free.

32

2005-11-25T01:24:26Z

43,579 / 50,000
(87.2%)

Lesk left a message on Fox’s voice mail that they were going to see Miss Augusta. She knew he’d be disappointed but figured they had to go today or miss the chance.

Samaj wore his ‘meet and greet’ outfit. He looked like he was going to church she thought, unused to the sight of her Sam dressed up. She raised her eyebrows at him and he shrugged.

“She’s a teacher right? You gotta give respect to a teacher or else you’re a complete loser. Teachers are like priests. Yah.”

He must get that from his dad she though remembering the tons of books she’d seen in the library. His parents had given him the love of knowledge and those who taught. Lesk thought it was such a horrible thing that his father’s love of knowledge was probably what led him to SPO.

They left, telling Miss West they were going to the movies and would be back in a few hours. She sent them off with a wave. Lesk looked at her as she was walking out. Wondering if she knew. She had to. He was her husband. He’d probably talked to her about it. She knew he had. They were married for years, had forged an intimacy that only people who had been together for so long could comprehend. Of course he’d have talked to her. How could she remain silent? Lesk looked at her kind face and couldn’t match it up in her head.

She turned her head and Samaj was looking at her. It was spooky the way he could read her mind sometimes. He shook his head, looking sad. She started forward, refusing to look back. She had the weird feeling of being that girl in the bible story. The one who looked backwards and turned into a pillar of salt. That part had always made her cry as a child. Such a harsh punishment for a little sin. Not even a sin, really. Unless you count curiosity.

It wasn’t far to the teacher’s house. They made it there in a little over thirty minutes. Samaj had wanted to take the car but Lesk preferred to walk. It was a nice, sunny day. Just enough breeze to make the weather comfortable.

They ambled alone until they came to Miss Augusta’s house. It was a bit farther from town than most. She had a lot of land, mostly prairie land, with a few cows here and there. Her house was mid-size, an older house. Faded wood panels decorated the front, old wooden shades over the windows. The white paint job had long since chipped and gone. On the roof was a rusty weather vane in the shape of a rooster. Lesk noticed Miss Augusta also had a huge barn in the background. It looked as though no one had used it for years.

They knocked on the door. And waited. Waited. Waited some more. Lesk looked at Samaj and he looked at her with his eyebrows raised as if to say ‘Why you lookin’ at me? I don’t know.’. Lesk sighed and raised her hand to knock again. The door opened before her hand made contact. The creaking sound grating on her nerves. Miss Augusta greeted them with a smile, her hair scraped back into a bun.

Lesk remembered her’s was always a good class to be in. She treated everyone with respect. Many times she hadn’t gotten the same back from her students. Lesk had always felt sorry for Miss Augusta, she seemed to belong more in a convent than a bustling high school.

“Ah. Hi Lesk! And I see you brought Mr. Samaj here as well. It’s good to see you. Please do come in.”

Something felt odd but Lesk couldn’t quite place it. Miss Augusta’s voice sounded different, scratchy. Maybe she had a cold she thought. Being around all those kids all day was bound to be bad for your health with the germs and such.

“I made some homemade lemonade special for you Lesk. Let me get another glass for your friend. Have a seat.” Miss Augusta said, pointing to the sofa. It was one of those old lady sofas with the lace doily looking cover on it. Lesk picked up one of the pillows to reveal a giant grinning cat head had been sewed on it. The cat was black and white, the teeth sharp looking and pointy.

Weird. Though Lesk knew more than anyone how being alone could slowly drive you mad. A few more years and it could have been her sewing demonic cat faces on company pillows. She shuddered at the thought. Samaj started at the pillow, sitting next to her.

“Dude, that’s freaky. Look at mine.” He held his up. It had a dog on it, red eyes all but popping out of the stitching on the pillow. “Evil hounds? Ahhh.”

Lesk looked around the room. No television. Or radio. No books. Just the weird pillows and old furniture. It all looked like it belonged in another era. And only the chair seemed well used. The smell of dust and moth balls permeated the small room. Lesk coughed a little at the smell which seemed to get stronger the longer they were there. She moved and a small puff of dust was released. Jesus she thought. Does no one ever visit this woman. It looked as though they were the only ones to sit on this couch in year. There was a fine layer of dust on the sofa. She rubbed her finger on the table in front of the couch, coming back with a smudge of dirt on her finger. She rubbed it on her jeans.

“All righty, here’s another cold glass of lemonade for the gentleman.” They jumped at the voice. Miss Augusta had walked in holding a glass of lemonade. She placed it in front of Samaj and sat on the chair opposite the sofa.

Samaj took a sip of his, wincing. Curious, Lesk took a sip. Bitter. But at Miss Augusta’s expectant expression they both started to drink the bitter brew.

“What did you want to ask me about children?” Miss Augusta asked.

“Well, we know you run the Literature Club right?”

“My yes. I love that club. Such fun reading and talking over books with interested students. We always had such a good time.” her eyes had a far away look as she spoke.

“Yes. Well, did you know that three of the four girls that were taken were members of that club.”

“Were they? I seem to remember Susan. Such a lovely girl. So bright and full of life. Such pretty blue eyes. Bright.” Her eyes still held that unfocused look, as if she wasn’t really paying attention to their conversation.

“Yes. And you taught the fourth girl, Laurie?” She prompted, feeling odder and odder. This situation was off. The house was off. It felt wrong somehow. As if she were watching a movie and knew intellectually what would happen, but was unable to change anything.

“Oh Laurie. I remember her. Such a bad girl. She wasted her potential. Always flitting around with those boys. Tarting it up on the street. Short skirts. Skirts so short you could almost see her vulgar parts. Spreading her legs for any boy that would have her. Nasty. I had to wear my thick plastic gloves with her. To prevent any contamination. So disgusting. A bit like you, eh? First with the Fox boy and then with the lovely Samaj. Naughty naughty.” Her voice had roughened, deepened. Her eyes bright like stars.

Lesk shook her head to clear it. She heard a buzzing sound, her eyes glazing over. She felt a thump and saw that Samaj had fallen forward, his head hitting the table.

“Sam?” she whispered. She felt incredibly tired and tried to move her arms to touch him. They felt like lead. She shook her head again, trying to clear the fog.

“Oh he’s dead to the world. A little concoction I cooked up. Not too much though. Can’t kill him. I need him for later. You too. We’re going to have fun now, you and I. So much fun. I’ll show you such things. Make you a part of me. Like the others. Just like the others. The very . . last . . piece.”

Lesk looked up. Miss Augusta. It was Miss Augusta all along? Jesus. I can’t die like this. Not asleep. I’m afraid of the dark she thought, blacking out. The last thing she heard was the sound of off key humming. It sounded . . happy? You shouldn’t hum when you killed someone she thought. It wasn’t polite. And then she knew no more.

31

2005-11-24T03:58:11Z

42,110 / 50,000
(84.2%)

Lesk spent the rest of the night haunting the hall outside of Samaj’s room. She knew he was going to crack it again. It was only a matter of time. So she stood outside, and waited. Mrs. West gave her an odd look once or twice but Lesk smiled at her innocently. Nothing to see here, move along now.

She listened for the tap tap of his keyboard and his cursing. When she heard it stop, when she heard a muttered “Jesus”, she opened the door, locking it behind her.

He was staring at the monitor in slack jawed astonishment. Lesk put her hands on his shoulders, standing behind him.

She could see what she’d tried to hide. In bold print. His name was right there.

“I’m sorry Sam. I didn’t want you to know.”

He got up, shaking his head. “It must be a mistake. My dad is not like that. He’s not.” Lesk put her arm around him. She could feel his shoulders shaking.

“I’m gonna go talk to him L. There has to be an explanation for this.”

Lesk shook her head at him. “No Sam. What if he’s still connected to them? You could put yourself in danger.”

“My dad would never hurt me. Never.” He replied furiously.

“What about Fox? What about me?” Lesk felt sick saying it to him. Sick at the thought of it. She couldn’t trust Mr. West anymore. Which meant she wasn’t safe anywhere.

Samaj collapsed on the bed, covering his face. “You really think he would hurt you?” he whispered.

“I don’t know.” That was the truth, she really didn’t. If she believed what her heart said, that he was a good man. That he had become almost like a father to her. If she could believe that. But her head reminded her that he was party to what was literally a torture experiment. On people. Someone who could do that could do anything.

Samaj hung his head and Lesk stayed with him until he fell asleep, covering him with a blanket as she left his room. She jumped when she closed the door. Mr. West was watching her in the hallway. Had he been there all along? Lesk tried to smile at him, knowing it fell short of a full smile.

“Umm.. Hi Mr. W.”

“Miss Lesk. There wouldn’t be anything . . intimate going on with you and my boy would there? ‘Cause the missus thinks something might be up and she’s always right about things like that.” He said, uncomfortably.

“No! I mean . . no. No we’re just friends. I swear.” She said, equally uncomfortable. Somehow she’d rather deal with death threats than relationship stuff.

“Oh. Okay then. I trust you. Sam is a big boy and all but he’s had problems. And we don’t want them to start again.” Mr. West said and nodded firmly at her, leaving the hall.

Lesk went into the living room, knowing she couldn’t sleep in this house tonight. She flicked the television on. Disdaining the infomercial, she turned it off again, and went searching through the library for a book to read. She’d never really been in this part of the house before. She went to the local library for books to read.

It was a large space for a library. The big oak shelves polished and smelling slightly of sandalwood. She walked the length of the room, looking at the books. Many of them were old and looked well taken care of. The bindings tight, the covers unworn. She flipped through one of the books on Zoology, liking the pictures of fierce tigers and the cute llamas. Llamas had always fascinated her. Her father had taken her to the petting zoo once and she’d liked them best. Soft and tall. They’d towered over her but she’d never been afraid of them. She’d hugged the biggest one, refusing to let go. When her father eventually made her leave she’d cried for hours after.

She set the book aside, looking for books on science. Yeah like he’d have a stack of books on genetic mutation. Gene manipulation she thought. There were an awful lot of books on science. Specifically life sciences. A lot of biology. That and history. He had what looked like hundreds of books on European history. The Dark Ages. Russian History. They looked odd side by side. Science and History. But they had common ground she thought. She took the Zoology book and one on Russian Czars. Dry reading but since the library didn’t have much fiction, they would have to do.

She debated whether to read them in the library or in the living room, deciding on the library. The couch was comfier and she could see whoever came down the stairs before they saw her. She leaned against the back of the couch, reading long into the night. Her eyes feeling heavier and heavier. Until they seemed like weights, holding her neck down. She drooped over the book she was holding, falling asleep with her head lying on top of the picture of a llama. She didn’t notice when someone came in the room and draped a blanket over her still form.

She dreamed of the Wolf again. She could see the Dove as well, perched on the Wolf’s shoulders. His mouth opened wide and she could see the wicked sharp teeth, dripping blood. The Dove cooed and perched in the Wolf’s huge mouth. In it’s beak was a striped candy cane.

She woke up with her nose squashed in the book, her neck giving off lightening bolts of pain.

“Ooooowwwww. Note to self; Do not ever do that again. Pain. Major pain.” She rubbed at her neck, trying to soothe the cramped muscles. Her neck felt like an elephant stepped on it. She stretched, trying to get the kinks out of her muscles. She felt grimy and dirty and she could feel an impression on her cheek from the sides of the book. She picked the books up, heading upstairs. She needed to take a bath she thought, sniffing at her underarms. Stinky. Girls should not stink, they should always smell of roses and clouds. She remembered her mother telling her that once when she’d come up from the yard covered with dirt, a tear in her nice new dress.

Her father had laughed and told her that little girls could smell however they wanted as long as they stayed away from little boys. Lesk remembered telling him that she agreed. She quite despised little boys.

Samaj’s door was open a crack and when she peeked in she saw he was in the same position she’d left him in last night. She hoped he’d slept better than she had. She somehow doubted that he had. She got her bathing supplies from her room and went to take a shower. A cold shower. Freezing cold. It woke her up, startled her awake. She felt the last vestiges of sleep melt away.

She got out rubbing the water out of her eyes, wiping the steam from the bathroom mirror. Her scars stood out in stark relief from her face, her hair wet, hiding nothing. She covered the mirror with a towel.

She dried off, dumping her old clothes and used towels into the clothes basket. She needed to do something she thought. She out on her fresh clothes and went into Samaj’s room. He was still sleeping though he could be faking she thought. Maybe he didn’t want to talk to her. Maybe he blamed her. If she’d never met him he’d have probably never found out about SPO. Or his father. For his sake she wished that had happened. She would miss him she thought.

Lesk walked to his computer. She wanted to finish what they started yesterday. She looked up Miss Augusta’s phone number and address. She’d call her today and see about coming over tomorrow to talk about the girls. She hoped she knew something. Anything. Miss Augusta had always seemed a bit of a dip but she did care about her students. She cared about what they learned and stuff. Lesk had liked her as a teacher.

It was surprisingly easy to get information on people via the internet nowadays. Just a quick search and you could find someone’s address and phone number. A more detailed search could turn up just about anything. You’d have to dig through a person’s garbage to get more than that. Lesk wrote down the number and address. She turned and saw Samaj peaking at her through one eye. He closed it quickly when he noticed she was looking at him. Boys she thought. Samaj apparently thought if he couldn’t see her she couldn’t see him. She sat on his bed, leaning over him as he played possum.

“I know you’re awake Sam. It’s cool though, I won’t bother you.” She said, getting up to leave. Samaj threw his covers off, and jumped in front of his door.

“It’s not you. It’s I dunno, everything.” He bowed his head.

“I know Sam.” she replied, feeling bad for him. “I’m gonna go call that teacher, Miss Augusta, to see if it’s cool that we come over tomorrow.” she said, leaving him alone. She knew he’d eventually feel better but the first day was always a kicker.

She used the phone Mrs. West had put in her room. A sparkly pink girl phone. Lesk secretly liked it but would never admit it to anyone. Ever.

She dialed Miss Augusta’s phone number, listening to the rings and hoping she was home. The school was on a break or something so she might be on vacation. Lesk hoped not. And it wasn’t like teachers made enough money to go on vacations all the time she reasoned.

She sat up when she heard a female voice say “Hello.”

“Hi! Miss Augusta?”

She heard a rustling noise and then the voice said “Yes this is she. Can I help you?”

“Oh. Yes. This is Lesk. Lesk Holestrum. I was in one of your classes a while back. I wondered if I could come over tomorrow and ask you some questions?”

There was a pause and then she heard “That would be fine. Can you come today?”

She’d wanted to wait for Fox she thought. It was only fair to include him. “Oh. I was going to come tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t do it then. It has to be today. I’m going out of town tomorrow and I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Lesk sat back, thinking. It wasn’t that important an errand. They could just tell Fox about it after.

“Okay, then can I come today?”

“Yes, that would be fine. Say two o’clock?” Miss Augusta said.

Lesk agreed and Miss Augusta rattled off her address, not knowing Lesk had already looked it up. She hung up, wondering if she should ask Samaj to go.

She finally decided to, reasoning that it was better than leaving him to sulk in his room all day. Something else to think of. She knocked on his door, opening it withought a word.

She told him about the meeting and he agreed to go, perking up at the thought of getting out of the house. She left him in his room, and went to the kitchen in search of something to eat. Wouldn’t do to go investigating on an empty stomach.

30

2005-11-23T03:43:26Z

40,163 / 50,000
(80.3%)

They decided to go at dusk. It would be dark, but not too dark. Samaj once again got into his spy gear. Black from head to toe. Lesk thought if he’d been able to order those night vision goggles he wanted to he’d be a scary sight. As it was he only looked like a regular burglar, not a rapist boogeyman burglar.

They agreed to meet Fox behind the school. Lesk crouched with Samaj behind the bushes, jumping at every little sound.

“It’s fine Lesk. They don’t have guards or anything. Just chill.” He whispered.

She shivered, glaring at him. It was cold. Dark. And they were out here all alone. Why wasn’t he shivering and jumping?

She hadn’t told him about his father yet. She’d heard him cursing in his room. Random geek expletives that she’d come to know as his computer language. She’d felt bad. She hadn’t told him, had messed with his beloved computer. She didn’t know how to tell him or when. It better be soon she thought. Or he’d find out himself. She felt a warm hand on her back and jumped, shrieking. The hand slipped over her mouth.

“It’s me! Fox. Shhhh.” He whispered in her ear. She could see Samaj collapsed on the ground in silent mirth. She glared fiercely at him, the effect somewhat muffled as his black cap had fallen over his eyes. He looked ridiculous she thought. The Keystone Burglars. She snorted at him, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. Fox looked at them like they were insane. He walked away, shaking his head at them. Lest offered Samaj her hand and he got up, still laughing. They followed closely behind Fox, grinning at his back.

He picked the key out of his pocket, striding calmly and confidently to the door. Not a care in the world she thought wonderingly. Fox could be so cool sometimes. Like a great big cool jock boy with an actual mind. Sweaty and thinky she thought.

He opened the large doors and they carefully walked in. Lesk expected loud alarm sounds to shriek from the building at any minute. This was too easy. Really. How dare they make it this easy to break into a school? A high school at that. We could be mass murdering killer people, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting perky teens. Like in that movie. With the axe. She shuddered at the memory. She hated watching those kinds of movies. Stupid evil masked murderer people. So creepy. Though she thought if she ever had to urge to go chopping people up she’d definitely stop to put on some sort of mask. Added to the mystique.

Not that she’d ever had the urge to chop people up. Often.

The gym seemed so eerie at night, the dark quiet disturbed only by the sound of their foot steps. She sidled a little closer to Fox, watching as Samaj fairly skipped along. He wasn’t scared at all she thought. How odd. Fox opened the door and they walked into the main building. The lights were off in there too. The darkness overpowering, suffocating. School wasn’t in any way comfortable when she was supposed to be there. She’d somehow thought that might be better sans the people and oppressive regime. It wasn’t. The smell was still the same. Stale french fries and moldy socks. Only it was worse now, the smell stronger. Must be the absence of all the cologne and perfume. She’d gotten used to the smell mixed in with the normal school smell.

“Why don’t you wear cologne?!” she demanded of Samaj. He held his hands out, the mask slipping over his mouth as he mumbled something unintelligible. Smart ass. She turned sharply on her heel, leaving him facing her back.

She knew it wasn’t his fault. But she felt antsy. Angry. Spoiling for a fight with something. Someone.

She put her hands in her pocket, playing close attention to her feet as she shuffled along after Fox. They came to a stop at the door to the administration office. Fox tried to open the door, jiggling the handle. Locked. He cursed, trying to force it open. Samaj strode forward apparently helping him in his quest to open the door by sheer manly force.

Lesk tapped them on the shoulder and pushed her way in front. She took out a hard piece of plastic she’d pilfered from Mrs. West’s craft drawer.

“What the hell?” Samaj asked.

“Don’t you ever watch TV. Credit card? Door?”

“That’s television Lesk. It doesn’t work like that in real . . life.” Fox said, drifting off as she pried the lock open. She smiled perkily at them, opening the door wide.

“Showoff.” Samaj grumbled, following Fox inside.

“I have skills. Mad skills.” Lesk said.

The office was a mess she thought. The cleaning lady must not have been in yet. She peered at the school secretary’s desk, wincing at the bear figurines and mugs. Weird. The obsession for the saccharine cuteness made her afraid. Very afraid. Though that little one with the diaper was kind of cute. Wait. Did she just? No. Lesk shook herself, wandering towards the principle’s office. The boys were already there, looking for the file drawer key.

Samaj spotted it in the top drawer of his desk. “Gotcha.” he said, looking proud.

They unlocked the student files and took out the files of the students who had been killed.

“Do we take them? Or what?” Samaj asked.

Lesk shook her head at him. “If we took them someone would notice. I say we each look at one at a time and try to memorize as much as we can. We should write down anything that seems out of the ordinary. We can always come back later.”

Fox nodded and they started to read. Lesk looked at the name on the file she had.

Susan Starling.

Suz? Fox’s Suz? She looked over at Fox who was reading intently and then looked back at the file. She’d been a beautiful girl. Pretty. She looked over the file. Busy too. School Newspaper. Cheer Squad. Glee Club. Teen Volunteers. Christian Fellowship Club. Literary Club. Suz was on the fast track to success. She’d have gone to college, eventually married Fox, and they’d have had a couple of kids. Cute kids. If she closed her eyes she could picture it. She opened them, staring at the photo inside the file. Wasted she thought, putting the file away. She handed it to Samaj, picking up the file he’d just let go of.

This one was different. Not as perky, but pretty in a quiet way. She ran her thumb over the faded photo. She hadn’t been as busy as Suz Lesk thought. Her only extracurriculars were the school string quartet and and Literary Club.

Wait. Hadn’t she seen that before? Lesk plucked Suz’s file from Samaj’s hand, ignoring his protest. She looked at it. Then at the one she held. Same club. But that wasn’t much of a coincidence was it?

She got the file Fox held and the one on the floor. She looked past the faces to the club info. The first was in the Literary Club too. The second wasn’t. Still. It felt like something. They were different types of girls. Came from different backgrounds. But they felt similar.

The Literary Club could be the connection. But the one girl wasn’t a member. She looked through the club files, for the sponsor teacher. Miss Augusta. She picked up the last file. The girl hadn’t been a member of the Literary Club but maybe. Yeah. She’d been in Miss Augusta’s class. So they had a connection. All of the girls had been around that teacher. Lesk couldn’t conceive of the kindly spinster lady being involved but she might know something.

“Sam, Fox. I think I found something. See here? And here? And here? They were all members of the Literary Club. It’s run by Miss Augusta. And the last girl was in her English class. Do you remember Suz saying anything about the club?” She asked Fox.

He shook his head. “She went to so many of them. I mostly just showed up at places she told me to so I could watch her do . . whatever she was doing that day. Like when she was doing the Cheer Club. I used to help with the fund raisers and stuff.”

He held Suz’s file, so tight she could see his fingers turning white a bit. She put her hand over his. “So she never said anything about it?”

“No. I think I remember her reading a book now and again that she didn’t usually read. Classics and stuff. Suz liked romances. I asked her about it once and she said they were reading it at he Literary Club. That’s all I can remember.”

Lesk looked at the files on the floor. “So that’s all we have then? The same club? The same teacher?”

Samaj looked down. She could tell he was disappointed too. It was somewhat of a dead end.

She looked up at Fox, who had started to put the files back. “I think we should go visit that teacher Fox. See if she knows anything.”

Fox nodded, not saying anything. Lesk could tell he was disappointed too. They’d expected to find something more. Lesk squeezed her hands together. She should have thought of this. The cops must have done the same thing they had. And it hadn’t gotten them anywhere either. They’d probably talked to Miss Augusta too.

She didn’t realize she’d been speaking aloud until Fox spoke.

“No. They didn’t question her.”

“How do you know for sure Fox?”

He looked down, blushing a little. “I’ve been um.. sort of spying on my dad’s files on this case. It’s the only thing that kept me sane after Suz . . “

Was murdered she thought, filling in his sentence. “Why didn’t you say so before? We could have skipped this.”

“You’ve been looking into places that the cops never thought of. So I just . . . let you. And I figured we might look at something here the cops didn’t. I don’t think they are trying as hard as the can. I heard one of the cops saying it was just ‘a couple of bitches’.

A couple of bitches? Jesus. Small town justice she thought. Cops with tin badges. She’d grown up on classic tv. Hill Street Blues. Columbo. Where cops cared about people, took care of them. Once she’d thought that if she were ever in trouble, all she’d have to do was find a policeman and it would get fixed. She would be safe. She’d seen them as perfect. Heroes. It was only as she’d grown up that she’d found out that they were just people. Paid to do a job. Some of them did it well. Many of them didn’t. And many of them were asses. Those badges weren’t made of gold she thought. She wondered how Fox had stood the thought of some asshole cop calling his girlfriend a bitch. She’d have gone for his throat. He must have seen the question on his face because he coughed and said “I kicked him in the nads.”

She giggled.

“Dad was pissed.”

“I’d bet.”

Samaj sat in the principle’s chair, swirling around on the wheels. “You ready to go home now little Timmy?” she asked him.

“Very funny” Samaj said as he got out of the chair. He pulled his burglar hat back on his head and walked out ahead of them. She liked his playfulness she thought. They could be dying and Samaj would always look for something to cheer him up.

They left the office, making sure to put everything back in it’s place. Lesk, quietly grabbed the bear with the diaper from the secretary’s desk, sneaking it in her pocket. It was juvenile, she knew, but she wanted something to remember this by. Them by. When she left she would need it.

They quickly exited the school, coming to a stop where they had met.

“Why don’t we go to see Miss Augusta tomorrow?”

Fox shook his head at her. “No can do. Practice.”

“Okay. Next day?” she said.

“Cool.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow then Fox.” Lesk said. She and Samaj watched as the walked off towards his car, his hands in his pockets.

Lesk decided to call Miss Augusta tomorrow to make sure she’d be home when they went over. You never knew when she’d go out for ice cream or something she thought with a smile. At least they were doing something. Something positive. She took comfort in that.

28-29

2005-11-22T00:44:08Z

38,003 / 50,000
(76.0%)

It’s so sickening. I almost can’t watch it. The smiles, the vapid looks. She doesn’t deserve to be so content. It wasn’t supposed to turn out like that. Stupid. Fucking stupid.

. . . It will make the kill so much sweeter. I may as well kill her little boyfriend while I’m at it. I don’t like to kill boys. Too nasty. And never useful. They don’t have the right parts. Need the right ones. One more to go. One more pretty flower to pick. Then it’s her turn. I’ll rip the smile from her face. Rip it right fucking off.

Nothing but bitches in this town. They waste what they have so easily, throwing it all away. On some stupid sniveling boy. On liquid poison. I hate those drunk bitches most of all. Giggling teenage girls. All grown up now are you? Spreading your legs as easily as you butter your bread. Fucking erase you little bitches. I want what is mine. They took it from me. Left me for dead. I’m taking from you. I’ll take her and him too. Punish him like they punished me. Will you love him so much when he’d like me? Will you?

Twist and turn. The spinning wheel. Your fate is mine. I am your god, bitches.

Chapter 29

Lesk sat in the living room, watching a rerun of All in the Family while thinking of what to do about Samaj. She could burst into his room, confront him about it. That wasn’t her style. She couldn’t do the angry bitch thing very well. She focused on the television as the program was interrupted for a special announcement. She winced as she saw the face of the local news announcer. His eyes were sad as he related that another girl had gone missing. He rattled off the name of the girl, when she disappeared, and what she was wearing. Lesk tried to pay more attention but couldn’t get past the thought that this was her fault. She should have found the bastard by now. He should be in jail. Or better yet, dead.

While she’d been . . dating. While she’d been laughing. Enjoying her life. He’d been hunting. Killing. He’d been so busy. She shouldn’t have forgotten that. She should have done more. She squeezed her knees, knowing that girl was dead. She was as good as dead. Feeling like it was her fault.

Samaj had come in while the announcement was on, looking from the television to Lesk several times. He hesitated before coming in the room, his movements tentative, slow. He stood in front of her, watching her face. She tried to hide it from him, but she could see he knew.

“It’s not your fault.” He said, reading her mind. She shook her head, covering her face with her hair. He crouched in front of her, peering at her face through the curtain of hair.

“It’s not. He has an agenda. People to kill. You couldn’t have known when or where he would strike. We’ve been doing all we can. As fast as we can.” He said quietly.

She nodded at him, still covering her face.

“You still made at me Sam?” she asked, almost whispering.

“No. No I’m not. I’m really sorry Lesk. I shouldn’t have pushed you. I was jealous and acted like an ass.”

She huffed. “Yeah.”

They smiled nervously at each other, that awkward feeling coming over them.

“I’ve made some progress on the code cracking. I’ve almost got it done.”

“I think I may have an idea to find out who he is. All of the girls were about the same age. All of them young, pretty, accomplished. You’d have to know them right? You’d have to know who they are, where they go and stuff. To know when to get them and to know who has what you want. I think it’s someone at the school. We should go look at the school records, see if we can find out what they have in common.”

“I think your right. I can try getting to them from the net, but the school records are notoriously hard to get into. And the online records probably wouldn’t have the updated info. We should totally go.”

She leaned forward. If they were going to get into the school, they’d have to break in. She imagined that would be a pretty big deal if they got caught.

“I’m gonna call Fox. He might know of a way to get in withought too much um.. breaking and such.” She said, watching as he seemed to flinch a little. It still wasn’t cool she thought but Fox could help. She wasn’t going to pretend he wasn’t her friend.

She went to her room and called Fox. He agreed to come over, but sounded tentative about the breaking and entering part. He’d know better than just about anyone about the legal ramifications of this she thought. His dad would have drilled the law into his head since he was a child.

She went back into the living room to wait for him. Samaj was on the couch, watching the rest of All in the Family, eating a hot pocket. She jumped on the couch, sitting next to him.

“Archie was the man.” he said.

“I always dug the transvestite, Beverly.”

“She was cool. It was such a bummer when they killed her off.”

“Yeah. I think they did it for the censors. I mean, it was such a popular program. You can’t have a recurring character who dresses up like a chick.”

“I think it made a point. Like when Edith was almost raped, you felt differently about it because it was like you knew her.”

“Yeah.” She snuck a bite of his hot pocket, blowing on her fingers after. They watched the end of the episode, waiting for the sound of Fox’s car. Lesk went to get it when she heard it. Fox was standing at the front of the door, his hands in his pocket.

“Hi! Thanks for coming.”

He tilted his head at her and she opened the door. Samaj had come up behind her. They looked at each other and Lesk herded them into the living room before the fireworks could start.

She told Fox about her plan. He looked at her dubiously.

“You really think it’s someone at school? A student?”

“It has to be someone who knew all of the girls. The most logical place is the school.”

“Yeah. But you know we can get into all kinds of trouble for this? Like jail trouble?”

She breathed in. She didn’t want to get the boys into trouble, but she knew she was right. They’d find what they needed at the school. She nodded at him.

“If your really sure I’m in. I don’t want to see any more girls killed. And I think he’s going to keep killing until he’s stopped. My coach gave me the key to the auditorium so I could practice after the school was closed. We can get into the main building from there.”

Samaj was sitting on the sofa, his brow furrowed. “So if we get in through the auditorium.. Isn’t there an alarm?”

Fox shook his head. “Yeah but it’s not on the door leading from the auditorium to the main building. It’s just on the outside doors.”

“The auditorium isn’t an outside door?”

“Yeah. The key has a special chip in it though. It let’s you get in withought tripping any alarms.”

“Cool. When do you want to do it?” Samaj asked, looking up at Lesk.

“I think tomorrow. We have to do it as soon as possible.”

She wanted to say something else, maybe try to clear the air a little. They shouldn’t be at odds like this. They should be friends, they had so much in common. She tapped Samaj on the shoulder. “I’m going to look upstairs for something. You boys can get along for a bit withought fighting right?” He nodded back at her stiffly but Fox winked at her so she was glad he at least wasn’t taking it too seriously. She went upstairs, hoping they’d have to talk to each other if she was gone. She had a vague notion that she needed to get something to write on so they could work out a cohesive plan. Her room only held art supplies so she went into Samaj’s room.

She peered on his desk for a pen and some paper. She noticed his computer screen was still flickering. Then the numbers stopped running upwards and a notice appeared.

‘Complete.’ She stood in front of the computer, looking curiously at what appeared. Samaj had finally cracked the financials it seemed. She read the names of the investors rapidly. She didn’t recognize most of them. They weren’t local she thought. She stopped when something familiar appeared.

‘West, James. California, USA. Stock share option granted for his service in research and development.’

Mr. West? Samaj’s dad? That Mr. West? Jesus she thought. But he wasn’t a scientist. He was like a . . . what did he do. Samaj had never said, just that he made a lot of money at something. She’d never asked. He was just goofy Mr. West, obsessed with cooking and those weird ships that came in bottles.

She sat back on Samaj’s bed, stunned. He must not know what his father had been into. He’d never have raided SPO’s files if he had. She felt betrayed, and horrified. The hands that cooked the food she had eaten were tainted. They’d probably done horrible things. In the name of science. He couldn’t be connected to the murders. He couldn’t.

Could he?

She heard Samaj calling to her distantly and walked over towards the computer. She opened the program and deleted the work that had been done to crack the code. She knew Samaj could start over on it. But she didn’t want him to know yet. He might ask his father. She didn’t know what would happen then but she’d postpone it as long as she could. She walked downstairs in a daze, wondering what in the hell she could do now.

Fox and Samaj were talking excitedly together. Samaj gesturing wildly with his hands. They were getting along well she thought faintly. That was good.

She felt like she was watching everything from a mile away. She was lost somewhere, adrift in the sea. She couldn’t feel anything, her skin wrapped in cotton. She gripped the side of the doorjamb, her fingers molding on the wood. So hard she could feel the texture of the wood digging into her palm.

Samaj looked up at her. “There you are. You took so long we thought you got lost. Did you get what you wanted?”

Lesk looked at her hands. She was supposed to get something? She remembered thinking of something that they needed. She spotted some paper and a pen on the table in the living room and remembered. They’d found it anyway. Good.

“I uh... forgot.” she said, sitting on the chair near the sofa.

“You need more sleep, L.” Samaj said with concern.

“Uh huh” She mumbled, hoping he’d take the hint and ignore her. She wasn’t up for conversation just now. Samaj looked at her again and then went back to talking to fox. She absently payed attention to them. They were talking about tomorrow. Tomorrow?

Oh yeah. The breaking and entering thing she thought. To find the killer. The killer Samaj’s father had probably helped create. She wanted to get it over with. Everything. Then she’d find her father somehow. And leave it all behind her. She rocked a little in the chair. All behind her she thought. All behind her.

27

2005-11-21T02:55:24Z

36,007 / 50,000
(72.0%)

Lesk didn’t want to wake up. If she woke up she’d open her eyes. Then she’d have to look at Sam. She wanted to believe that everything that happened last night was some weird dream driven by too much soda and too many pieces of pie. She looked at her locked door and knew it wasn’t. Strangely, since that first night, she hadn’t been locking her door. Hadn’t felt the need to, which was somewhat of a miracle for her. She wondered again if she should leave. Maybe she could have an easier time finding her father than the social workers.

It had taken so long already. Too long. She wondered if he was dead. People died all the time and it would be just like her mother to keep it from her. She’d always teased her about her father never contacting her. Always insinuated that he’d done so because of the way she looked. That he couldn’t bear to be around her. She’d known her mother was lying. Somewhere inside. Most days it was hard to believe that when she’d never gotten a card. A letter. A phone call. Nothing.

She kept those memories of happy times with him in her heart, protected from her mother’s venom. She’d remembered the man he was. The man she always wanted him to be. She remembered feeling happy when she was with him, trusting that he would always catch her as he’d thrown her in the air.

She sat up on her bed, pondering her shiny red toenails. She’d have to get up eventually. Have to look him in the eyes knowing that they might not be friends anymore. She didn’t know if she could stay here, knowing that. She felt a part of her was missing, a gaping ache. She hopped out of the bed, dressing quickly. Maybe she had to get up, but she didn’t have to stay here. She thought about walking to Fox’s. She remembered the park he took her to last night and decided to go for a walk there. She’d like to see it during the day, with the sun shining.

Mrs. West was in the hall as she exited her room. Her face looked worried.

“Ah! Lesk. There is a lady her to see you. I think she’s a social worker?”

“Okay, I’ll come down.” Had they found her father? Was she leaving?

She went down the stairs carefully, worrying. She wasn’t sure she was ready to see her dad again so soon.

Mrs. West led her to the living room, where an older woman stood. She had wireframe glasses on, framing her heart shaped face. Her hair was steel gray, her face looked stern but her eyes were kind.

“Miss Lesk? I am Missus Waverly, and I’ve been assigned as your social worker. I am very sorry it took so long for me to come see you, but we’ve been horribly backed up.” She took off her glasses, polishing them and then setting them back on her nose. She sat down, looking expectantly up at Lesk.

Lesk sat next to her, her hands in her lap.

“I’m sorry to inform you but we have been unable to locate your father. He is apparently out of the country and has been for the last six months. We are still trying to locate him in the last place he was scheduled to visit, Spain, but our efforts have been futile thus far.”

Her father was missing? In Spain. She shook her head. Wasn’t that where those terrorists had blown up the train? She wondered again if he was dead. What would happen to her? Where would she go. She rubbed her hands over her eyes.

“What’s going to happen to me?” She asked aloud.

The social worker looked at her, and then at Mr. and Mrs. West, who had come in behind her.

“The West family has volunteered to let you stay with him if you’d like. We can start the process today to make them your permanent foster family. Or we can place you with another foster family, but that may take some time. We’d have to house you in an orphanage temporarily until we could find a family to take you.”

“But I’m seventeen. I couldn’t just be on my own?” She wanted to stay with the West family. But didn’t know if she was going to be able to. She’d blown it with Samaj. She didn’t know if they could fix it. And she had some money she thought. Her Dad might have been out of the country, but he’d been sending those support checks regularly.

“Not right now. The laws in this state about minors are such that you have to be eighteen for the state to relinquish control over your guardianship.”

Lesk twisted her hands together nervously.

“I think I’d like to stay here. With them.”

He social worker looked at her kindly. “I think that would be best for all. But you don’t have to make the decision today. If you’d like, I’ll give you today to think about it and come back tomorrow for your answer. We can start the process after then.”

Lesk nodded and the social worker left, leaving the scent of cinnamon and honey in her wake.

Mr. West and Mrs. West came forward. Mr. West had such a kind look on his face that it made her want to weep.

“I’d just like to tell you that no matter what you decide, you will always have a home with us. The missus and I have come to regard you as part of our family. We’ve seen what a fine girl you are and we’ve been honored to get to know you.” He had his arm around Mrs. West, who nodded at what he said. Lesk felt tears welling up in her eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. I need . . . I need to take a walk.” She almost ran out, she didn’t want them to see her cry.

She ran down the street, heading into the direction of the park Fox had taken her to. She noticed his car there and wondered if she should leave. She knew he sometimes practiced there, preferring the cold lake water to the tepid pool water. Her feet seemed to move withought her telling them to. Towards the water. She saw him then, the light reflecting from the water he sprayed around. He swam like a demon. So fast she thought wonderingly. She sat on a tree stump near the bank, watching him swim. She felt peaceful. The quiet daylight shining on his shoulders, the sound of rhythmic movement. She breathed in, closing her eyes. She hated to feel too much.

She opened her eyes when she heard the noise cease. Fox had risen from the water, a young wet seal. He shook his hair dry, tossing water everywhere. She smiled at him, so like a little puppy. He looked up at her, smiling back at her expression.

“What brings you here?” His voice sounded raspy, his chest moving rapidly. Must have been some workout she thought. She told him about the social worker’s visit, omitting the part about Samaj and the kissing. She wished she could forget about the kissing.

“You like it there right?”

“Yeah.”

“So I think you should stay. It’s less than a year until you turn eighteen and then you can do whatever you want. I visited that orphanage with my Dad before, it’s not a good place. It smells of piss and desperation. I didn’t know that even had a smell until I went there. They line the kids up like cattle when people visit, as if they were puppies at a shelter or something. Creepy.”

He shuddered at the memory. Lesk nodded, she’d known she didn’t really have a choice. And to be honest, she was glad. She saw the West family as heaven on earth. A safe haven. She would talk to Samaj again. They would have to work it out. She didn’t want to give up on them.

Fox crouched in front of her, dripping on the grass. She grinned at him. “Thanks. I appreciate it, but you’re dripping on me right now. And that lake water? It doesn’t smell good. I’d advise a bath. Stat.”

He laughed at her, shaking his head. She shrieked as the lake water landed on her. It did smell she thought, wrinkling her nose.

She jumped up, running as he chased her, shaking his head. She held him at bay with an inflatable Barney toy she’d picked up from the lake beach.

“Get back. Or you get the song!”

“Noooooo! Not the song! Anything but that!” He held his hands over his ears as she started humming the theme song off key.

She walked back with him towards the small cabin near the lake that was set up with changing rooms. She picked up some of his stuff while he changed, loading his car for him.

He came out, toweling his hair dry. “Thanks for putting my stuff up, I appreciate it.” He said, noting the absence of his gear.

They stood at the bank, watching the birds fly over the lake. “So you swim here every day?” she asked him.

“Not really. I try to get out here a couple times a week. I like swimming here, it toughens me up I think. Plus I like the solitary atmosphere. I feel at peace here.”

“Did I disturb you? I didn’t mean to.”

“Nah. You’re as quiet as a mouse. I didn’t notice you were hear until I came out. You can come anytime. Hey, you need a ride home?”

“Cool.” She got into his car, rolling the window down so she could enjoy the breeze. He drove her home, letting her out near the door. She got out and he leaned over to talk to her.

“So I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? See how everything went.”

“I think it’ll be fine Fox. Thanks for listening.” She waved as he drove away, feeling lighter since she’d talked to him. The door opened as she strode up the porch. It was Mr. West.

“That’s a fine boy.” He said, nodding towards where Fox’s car was disappearing.

“Yes. Yes he is.” And he was she thought. A decent guy. Those were too few and far between.

“You’re a fine guy too Mr. West. I wanted to thank you for offering me a place to stay. If it’s okay, I’d really like to. Stay, that is.” She saw Mrs. West out of the corner of her eye and wondered if Samaj was still boarded up in his room.

Mr. West smiled, and Mrs. West had come forward, putting her hand on his shoulders. He took her hand in his and they stood there, smiling at her.

“We’d like that.” he said and she saw Mrs. West had tears in her eyes.

Lesk nodded, and felt a lump develop in her throat. She skipped upstairs. To her room. And it was her room now she thought. She belonged there. She ran her hands over the wallpaper. The yellow roses looking old fashioned, the yellow color faded. She touched the comforter on her bed. Soft. Her’s. She took out the posters Samaj had gotten from her room. He’d rolled them up like a scroll and given it to her. She hadn’t put them up yet, thinking she’d be leaving soon. She took out the biggest one. A huge Picasso print she’d bought to brighten up her room when they’d first moved in. It would look good over her bed she thought.

26

2005-11-19T22:04:01Z

34,014 / 50,000
(68.0%)

She stood next to him, returning his scowl. “I can have a life Sam.”

“With Captain Studly?!” He yelled.

“His name is Fox. And he’s a nice guy. I had a good time with him tonight.”

“Yeah. Yeah I saw you kissing him.”

“Now we’re getting into the weird zone here Sam. You cannot act like this. You’re my friend but I can have other friends. I can’t see why you don’t get that.”

He looked down. “I dunno. I guess I thought you were my friend. And here comes this er.. handsome stranger and you seem to like him more than me. I don’t like it.” He looked up at her.

“But I talk to you too.”

“Not like him. I’ve heard you. You talk about your mom and stuff. You never want to talk like that with me. It’s like you see me as a kid brother. I’m as old as you, you know?”

She sighed. She had been treating him as if he were much younger than her. He deserved better. Samaj might act like a goof sometimes but he was brave and smart. He was a good guy.

“Okay. I’ll um .. Tell you stuff. Like best friend stuff.”

“Promise?” She nodded and they went to his room. She sat on his bed, trying to think of how to tell him. She wanted him to know.

“My scars. I’ll tell you how I got them. I know you’ve wondered. I never told anyone voluntarily before.” She took a deep breath, hoping it would be enough.

“You know how my mom was right? Well she used to be better. She used to smile a lot and she hardly ever drank. When I was young, like really young, she started dressing me up and entering me into those beauty pageant things for little girls. I won. Like all the time. But it started to become hard for me. I was just a kid, you know? And she was always making me wear this makeup and scratchy dresses. I started to get panic attacks and she ‘prescribed’ me tranquilizers and stuff. I took them all the time. All the time. Until I didn’t know what it felt like to be off of them. And I told her I wanted to quit the pageants. She refused and I spent another year doing something I hated so much. For her. I went crazy I think. I did it to myself. So I could stop her. So I could feel something. They put me in a nuthouse after that. And that’s what happened.”

She got it out as fast as she could, looking at the wall the whole time.

“Damn.” He seemed speechless, looking down at his arms. He pushed his sleeves up and showed her his scars.

“I did mine myself too. My parents used to be quite a bit different. They were never around. Dad with his business, Mom with her’s. So I was alone like all the time. I started hanging out with some kids from school who did a lot of drugs. I did too for a while. I stole from my parents to feed the habit. I met a girl. She was I dunno . . Perfect I thought. We went out together, both of us doing whatever we had to do to get drugs and stuff. She stole, I stole, we made each other worse I think. She eventually got straight, her parents shipped her off to a treatment center. I didn’t. When she came out, she told me she couldn’t be around me anymore, that I was bad for her. I cried, I think I remember begging. She wouldn’t take me back. All I had left was the silence and the drugs. One night I called her, high as the proverbial kite. She hung up on me. I took the needle I was using and cut my wrists until I couldn’t see straight. My Dad found me, brought me to the hospital. I tried again. And again.”

He pointed towards his scars, as if marking every attempt. Lesk looked at them and saw a little piece of herself in every one.

“They eventually put me in a nuthouse, like you. I stopped craving the drugs so much. I still craved the girl though. I’d even written her a couple of times. She never answered. My parents helped me through. I told them everything. My Dad sold his business and bought this house. For me. For our family.”

“Do you still miss the girl?” She wanted to know, she didn’t know why.

“Yeah. Sometimes I do. She was like a wish. A dream. It’s hard to let go of a dream.”

Lesk picked at his blanket, thinking. She was glad they’d talked, but she felt exposed. Like she was naked. That wasn’t a feeling she was used to. She didn’t like it.

“I’m sorry you went through that Sam, but I’m a little glad you did. Because it led you here. To me.”

She looked up at him and he bent forward as if to hug her. His lips landed on her’s, his eyes wide open. This is not a hug. This is so not a friendly best friend hug. His lips were soft she thought. He must moisturize . . hey wait this is Sam! She shook her head, pushing him off of her.

“What?! What the?! Sam, I thought we were friends! Friends don’t kiss like that. With mouths!”

He was crouched on his hands over her, trying to kiss her again.

“No! No Sam! We are not doing this.”

He sat back, looking angry. “I think I love you, you know? But you keep pushing me back. You go out with Fox. I’m your friend but I think. I think I want more than that. I feel closer to you than anyone else. I’ve never told anyone else what I’ve told you. I can’t believe you want to throw it away.” He tried to hold her hands in his. She let him, absorbing his warmth. His energy, jerking her hands away at the heat generated.

She blew her hair out of her eyes. “It’s you who wants to throw everything away for hormones. I love you like a brother, you’re my best friend. Why would you want to change that? Bring that icky man woman thing into it? Fox is my friend, nothing more. You’re my friend. I’m not ready for a relationship right now. I’m not in a good place in my head. I don’t know if I can ever love someone like that. I’m not going to do it just because your hormones are going crazy Sam. You shouldn’t expect me to.”

He stood up, turning his back to her. He ran his hands through his hair. He turned around, kneeling beside the bed, looking into her eyes.

“This is crazy. I know you’re not used to it. But we could be great together. We could get married and have a really good life. I don’t want to give you up. I don’t think I can.”

Lesk pushed herself up, stalking towards the door.

“Sam, you’re my friend. But you need to get over this. I can be your friend, I can’t be your girlfriend. Please don’t ask me anymore.”

He made a move to come after her but she slammed his door, running towards her’s. She locked it firmly, jumping on her bed. Why did he have to go and spoil everything? She closed her eyes, remembering how it felt to kiss him. Different from Fox. So different. Fox hadn’t looked into her eyes like that. Fox hadn’t made her feel the way that Sam did. Maybe he was right, maybe they could have something together. She was scared. She liked where they were now, she felt comfortable. He was her friend. They could talk to each other, burp around each other. She’d done the right thing. She didn’t want to ruin that. It was a perfect relationship right now. They’d built like a solid foundation.

She couldn’t help feel that it had developed some cracks tonight. She didn’t know if she could ever look at him the same way again. She cried into her pillow. Slow, hot tears. She would miss him. So much. She would eventually have had to leave him when her dad came. It felt like she’d already left him. She couldn’t be around him anymore now withought remembering tonight. She hated him for that. She hated him for changing things so quickly, for making her wish for things she knew she couldn’t have.

She wondered if she had to leave now. If staying with Sam and his family would cause too much pain for everyone. She had nowhere else to go though, and she thought as much as she would miss Sam, she’d miss his family just as much. They felt like her own family, they’d made her feel like she belonged here. With them. She knew she’d never find a place that would feel like this. That would welcome her as they had.

What a way to repay them she thought. Messing with their teenage son. It’s a wonder they don’t kick me out. She turned the lights off, hoping to find comfort in the glowing roses on the wall. She closed her eyes, shutting the light out. Maybe tomorrow will be better she thought. She didn’t have much fate that it would be. But it had to at least be better than today. That was something.

chapter 25

2005-11-19T02:48:55Z

32,381 / 50,000
(64.8%)

Lesk felt utterly and completely awful. Samaj hadn’t opened his door once. She’d told his parents about the date thing and they seemed happy for her. Mrs. West had even offered to help her pick a dress or something out. She still felt horrible, like she’d lost a part of herself. She kept wanting to find him and tell him things. Then she realized she couldn’t.

Before she left she stood near Samaj’s door, searching for something to say. Mr. West spotted her at the door. “He’ll get over it Miss L. Just give him a little time.” She walked out, towards the waiting figure of Fox.

He looked spiffy she thought. His hair was actually dry for once, it looked almost inky. He was wearing the typical teenage uniform of jeans and a t-shirt. She was glad she’d gently refused Mrs. West’s offer to help dress her and settled instead with her normal wear. The only concession she’d made was the pretty silver hair bracelet Mrs. West had loaned her.

He smiled nervously when he saw her and she looked at Mr. West.

“Did you have some sort of talk with him, Mr. West?”

“Nah. Just told him that I was your adopted father until your real Dad comes to collect you. And that I would be really unhappy were he to make you unhappy.” He said, innocently.

“That’s all?”

“Well . . I might have shown him my collection of arching trophies. Er.. and implied that I’d always wanted to hunt the most dangerous game of all.”

“You didn’t!” She fought with feelings of embarrassment, pleasure, and an odd need to tell him everything. Random acts of kindness frightened her. She always expected that some bad would always follow a feeling of good. But she settled for glaring at him and walking out to Fox’s car.

“You have her home by midnight ya hear!” He yelled as they drove off. Lesk tried to shrink into the bucket seat.

“It’s cool. All dad’s are like that with the girl kids. I guess they think you can’t protect yourself as well as the boy kids.”

Lesk scowled at him. “I know ten ways to kill a man with my pinky.”

“Really?”

“No . . but were never too far from anything sharp and pointy.” She nodded firmly. Not that she thought Fox would ever try anything. He was a gentleman. And it wasn’t a date. It was only a date if he payed for her.

He payed for her. She blushed as the ticket attendant took his money. This late, all the old people who’d normally see the movie were long asleep. This left Lesk and Fox pretty much the only breathing people in the theater seats. She munched on the popcorn he’d bought, waiting for the movie to start.

“Sooo . . . you think your gonna come back to school soon? I know Sam misses you.” He looked at her sideways. She looked straight ahead. Did he mean he missed her? Was that one of those hidden messages? Jesus, I am not good at this stuff she thought. Dates. Dating. Dating dates.

“I don’t know. I’m pretty much working on the investigation right now. I don’t think I could ever go back there. It’s not really fair of me to try. I just feel like it’s torture you know? And I can’t deal with that and everything else. I think I’m going to wait for my Dad and then do the home schooling thing in the meantime. Mrs. West offered to help me through it. She has an educating degree or something.”

“Umm.. Okay.” He looked disappointed. She clenched her jaw. She didn’t want to disappoint him but she’d told him the truth. She couldn’t go back there. She couldn’t go back there and keep her sanity. What was left of it.

The movie started and she was lost in the dark warmness. She liked that this theater was usually so warm. Almost like being outside. She reached in for some more popcorn, touching his hand accidentally. She jerked her hand back as if the contact burned. So movies meant actual . . Physical Contact? Did that mean she was expected to like make out with him amongst the stale old popcorn shells? She thought. That was not happening. No kissing of any sort. Maybe some kissing, but no tongue kissing. She watched Bogie on screen, looking scruffy and incredibly attractive for it. She’d always imagined men like him existed. Tough but fair, manly but gentle. She’d long since realized that movies were not based on reality. In reality, a man like that would be named Bubba, live in a trailer park, and would probably smack the little woman around to ‘teach her some manners’. Lesk liked her manners how they were, thank you very much. If she ever ended up with a man like that she’d go to jail for murder.

She was never going to live with someone abusive again. She didn’t deserve being treated like that. No one did. No matter what she’d been told, no matter what she’d done. She would like to live her life for herself now. That was selfish, yeah. She thought she’d earned it though.

She looked over at Fox. Forget Samaj. I’m on a date. With a cute guy who likes me and Bogie. What would be better? I’m gonna enjoy this. She resolutely stuck her hand out on the armrest, lightly touching the side of his arm with her’s. She felt his stare but he didn’t move his arm. She spent the rest of the movie feeling a warm comfort from their arms lying like that. Side by side. She cried at the end, though she’d seen it so many times she could recite the lines by heart. Bogie never got any breaks she thought. They sat through the credits at the end of the movie, the house lights brightening. She smiled at him.

“This was a good idea. I love this movie.”

“If you’ve seen it so many times, how come it still makes you cry?”

“I guess I have a soft spot for Bogie, for reluctant heroes. I thought it was sad that he almost had to force himself to choose the best thing for her, rather than for himself.”

“Yeah. I think it’s a cool movie. I have this trench coat in my closet that I never wear. I bought it after I’d seen this the first time.”

“You have to wear it!” Fox in a trench coat? How cool was that?

“Maybe sometime. If your good.”

She threw some of the leftover popcorn at him. “Bubba!”

“Who’s Bubba?”

“You! All you need is a trailer and a little woman.” She grinned at the thought. Fox in a wife beater shirt? Strangely attractive.

“Don’t be trashing mah tray-ler park friends! They have the best beer. Bubba Beer.”

She laughed at him, convinced there was no such thing as Bubba Beer.

“No really. President Clinton’s brother or whatever cashed in on his legacy and put out the custom beer. Tastes like piss and apple juice.”

“Ew. Apple juice.”

“Now that were on the subject of food, wanna go get some dinner?”

“Yeah. That popcorn made me hungry.”

“All that air.” He nodded sagely.

“Should have kept you away from it. You already have enough air in your head.” She laughed at him, sprinting through the exit door. He followed her, eventually catching her and giving her a fake noogie as she laughed at his expression.

They sat in the car in companionable silence. She was glad they’d gotten over the tension. Fox was a nice guy. And a great date. He drove up to the one and only fast food restaurant in the town. Lesk put her hand over his on the steering wheel when she spotted Dave there, with some blond girl hanging from his arm. She thought about telling the girl that he was bad news, that he might hurt her. Then she looked at Fox who seemed all too ready to get out of the car and start something. She’d forgotten he knew about Dave too.

Dave looked up at them, his expression turning angry at the sight of her. Guess he hadn’t gotten over it yet she thought.

“Just forget it Fox. I don’t want to do this tonight.”

“Fine. Fine. Okay. But where do you want to eat now?”

She thought and remembered the church she worked for was having a fund-raising dinner tonight. They could pay for their mean and eat it anywhere she reasoned, not all keen to hang with the exorcist people. He agreed and they drove to the church. The pastor greeting her like a long lost friend, expressing sympathy for her loss. She nodded, and nodded. Then got out of there as quickly as she could. Any minute now she could feel the demons starting to come to call around there, her presence only making it worse. Before they left she spotted that female teacher, Miss Augusta, from her school. She looked a lot happier here than in school.

Fox drove on, not speaking much. He must still be angry about Dave. Forget Dave she thought. I’ve already forgotten him. He’s just a big town ass in a small town setting. Someone would give him a well deserved punch one day.

“I don’t get you. You act like everyone’s a leper at school but you work at this church? With those . . people?”

“I’m more like those people than the kids at school, Fox. I feel more comfortable around . . I guess damaged people. Mine’s on the outside, but their’s is on the inside. You get it?”

“Yeah. Like me. With Suz and everything I felt broken inside. You make me more comfortable about it than my parents or the kids at school.” He coughed after that, staring forward uncomfortably. Lesk was glad she could help him with something like that, but sorry that he still felt so bad over his girlfriend.

Fox drove them to the local park and they ate the dinners they’d bought at the church under a blanket of stars. It was the best meal Lesk could ever remember having. The feeling of being free, being open, was electrifying. She licked her fingers after eating a piece of fried chicken, giggling at Fox’s expression as he watched her eat. She was uneasy about being watched as she ate but it leant an intimacy that she liked. As if they were regular people. Just two teenagers on a date, just like in a movie.

They ate in silence, she didn’t feel the need to talk and he didn’t seem to care. When she was through she lied on her back, smiling at the stars. Pretty, like glinting pieces of a diamond. Her mother had worn a bracelet like that. She looked at the sparkling stars, hoping her mother was, if not some place better, at least at peace.

Fox drove her home and they talked about things. Small things, simple things. What movies he liked, what books she liked, what music they both liked. Lesk waved her arms out of the side of the window, enjoying the goose bumps that popped on her arms as the night got chillier. She spoke to him of her mother a little, and he spoke of his girlfriend. They talked about what they’d wished they’d done or said before. And he always talked about missing her, like she’d been a physical part of him and now what was left was just an ache. She realized then that they were probably never going to get romantically involved. She was too tied up with his memories of Suz now. He’d always see her when he looked at Lesk and she wouldn’t settle for being second best.

He walked her to her door, looking nervous again. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the mouth, enjoying the surprised look on his face and the softness of his lips.

“Thanks for a really great night Fox. You’re a good guy. A good friend. I’d do it again any time!” She smiled up at him, knowing he’d gotten the message, hoping he felt the same way. He smiled back at her and she was glad that he felt the same. She hoped one day he could find someone to share another moonlight picnic with. He left, promising to call her later. She opened the door, knowing that she’d eventually have to stop smiling like a loon but she felt too good to stop.

She started up the stairs, coming to a stop at the sight of Samaj’s scowling face. He stood at the top, having obviously been watching as she’d said goodnight to Fox. Has he been waiting all this time she wondered. She squared her shoulders and walked up the stairs again. He’d pouted long enough. If he wanted to have it out they would.

chapter 24

2005-11-18T04:02:21Z

30,169 / 50,000
(60.3%)

Lesk didn’t think she’d had an hour of sleep all last night. She kept picturing genetic monster people behind her closed eyes. Weird, disjointed feelings of disappointment and terror. The roses turned into eyes glowing with malevolence. Greedy eyes.

She got up, rubbing her eyes. They burned, like she’d squirted lemon juice in them. Tart even. She put on the fuzzy bunny slippers Samaj had gotten her as a joke and slowly made her way down the hall. Samaj’s door was closed and she could heard the sound of furious tapping coming from it. As she had no desire to sit and watch as Samaj was at it for hours and hours, she swiftly walked by.

She’d made the mistake of going in there when he was in ‘the zone’ once. It had taken her five hours to escape. Five hours of watching him curse, type, curse. She would have assumed by the slack jawed look that he wasn’t breathing if it wasn’t for the cursing. She’d tried to leave but he kept asking her to stay, saying it would only be a ‘minute’ more. She’d escaped by walking veeeery slowly towards the door, opening it fast, and running for the hills. She considered herself very lucky. Very very lucky. One should always tread lightly around an obsessive computer geek in the zone she’d learned.

She wiggled her toes in the fuzzy womb of the bunny slippers. She liked them, had laughed when he’d handed them to her. They reminded her of being a kid again. A real kid. Samaj had bought some fuzzy little carrot toys too and he put them in weird spots in his room she when she stepped on one it looked as though the bunnies were getting some nummies. It amused him. Lesk believed he was insane sometimes. He was definitely odd.

She walked slowly towards the kitchen, thinking to grab some of the pie Mrs. West had made last night. It was that lemon pie with the foamy topping. She liked to eat the sugary foam and then play around with the rest of the piece, pretending she ate it all. Mr. West had left a note on the front of the refrigerator;

Miss Lesk;
Wrestled the last piece of pie from that monster of a son. His fangs were truly terrible but I prevailed! Saved it for you!

P.S. Leave me the lemon part in the very back of the fridge. Make sure you hide it behind the orange juice or Sam will sniff it out.

She smiled and grabbed the piece of pie, taking the wrapping off of the top. She scraped the white foam into her mouth, moaning at the sweetness. Suuugggaaarrrr. She loved eating sugar when she first woke up.

She went back upstairs, listening at Samaj’s door. She didn’t hear any tapping. Or swearing. She did hear an odd humming sound though. She knocked lightly at the door, opening it at a muffled ‘Come In’. Samaj sat on his bed, glaring at the computer.

“I’ve tried to crack the rest Lesk! But it’s too damn hard. Sick programming. Really sick. I’m gonna try running it through a modified code program to see if it works.”

His eyebrows furrowed. She had the feeling that not much about computers stumped him, but this did.

“Why don’t we get Fox to borrow his dad’s laptop again? You said it was powerful right?”

Samaj shook his head. “I dunno. It might help. But do we really need to call him again? We just saw him yesterday.”

“Sam . . .” She gave him her best mean look. He shook his head again at her, sighed, and picked up the phone.

She sat next to him, absently paying attention to their conversation. She still felt tired, her eyes burning with fatigue.

“Hey!” She jumped.

Samaj looked at her with concern. “You all right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I said Fox said he couldn’t get the laptop until later but that he’d bring it over sometime tonight if that was cool.”

“Yeah. I think I’m going to take a nap or something Sam. I’m really tired.”

Samaj nodded, still looking concerned. Lesk smiled wanly at him and went back to bed. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She didn’t dream, and would be glad of it when she woke up again.

It was dark when she opened her eyes, the moonlight a faint glow through the window.

How long was I asleep for? she thought. It felt like days to her. She looked at the clock radio next to her bed. Seven o’clock. That was late. She hadn’t meant to sleep for so long. She put the bunny slippers on again, thinking maybe Fox had come by now.

Samaj’s door was closed and she could hear that tapping again. She started to creep by when she heard him cursing. Then she heard another familiar voice cursing. Fox she thought, opening the door. They sat side by side. Samaj typing and cursing. Fox taking over, cursing, and giving it back to him. She snickered and they both looked up, identical expressions of ‘caught’ on their faces. She laughed and mimed typing, and cursing. Samaj threw on of the fuzzy carrots at her.

“So I take it no luck?” she asked. Samaj grunted, typing, and she took that as a yes.
She sat next to Fox, leaning over him to watch Samaj. He always looked like a whirling dervish she thought, watching him furiously type, as if he could physically make the code obey his will. The glare from the laptop monitor shone on his eyes making them glow almost eerily.

“You boys need some snacks. And therapy. Lots of both.”

“Thank you Dr. Tree Girl.” Samaj muttered. She shoved him and got off the bed, feeling surprisingly girly. What else would you call getting meat for her man . . er men? This was an odd feeling for her. She’d never had a boyfriend, had to be content with the leers of the grown men at the beauty pageants and later, the looks of horror. She liked the feeling. The normal feeling. As if she was part of something. She was still afraid. Afraid of being killed, but more than that she was content that if she did die, she’d have died for something. She was going to tell Samaj to set up some sort of system that would reveal the files they’d uncovered to the media if they died. She wanted SPO to pay for what they did. What they were probably still doing.

She got out some of the leftover meatloaf they’d had yesterday. It was actually the first time she’d had it. Kinda good she thought. Better than she’d imagined. Crunchier too. She took the plate out, piling Samaj’s high. The boy ate like a bottomless pit. She got some cornbread out too. Fox would probably dig it she reasoned. She heard a faint sound behind her and looked up to see Fox walking in.

“I thought you might need some help.” She looked at him.

“Er . . okay. Samaj was scaring me a little. Cursing the computer and such.” He said awkwardly. She looked at him again. “Okay, so you want the meatloaf? I got some cornbread out too.”

He looked at the plate of meatloaf, wrinkling his nose. She poked it. “You may be right. Sam loves it though. I can still give it to him. Want a sandwich?”

“Cool. Bologna?”

“Nooooo. Mrs. West says it’s ‘poison’. We have some of that organic ham stuff though.”

“Organic?” He said dubiously.

“I know. I think their raised more healthy or something.”

“A pig is a pig.”

“Huh. I agree with you but you still wanna try the special ham?” She opened the package, letting him smell it. He sniffed it like a dog, making her smile.

“Smells like ham. Let’s be daring!” He helped her get the rest of the ingredients out, his arm bumping her’s a couple of times. She’d looked at him the first time but he’d looked so innocent she didn’t say anything. After the second time she just let him, taking longer than usual to get the stuff out. He made his sandwich while she heated up the meatloaf and cornbread.

She got the milk out and bumped into him as he put the dishes in the washer. He stared down at her, his eyes looking weird. She noticed his arms through his short sleeved shirt. Sleek she thought. Where the hell do I get sleek from?

He stood for several seconds, looking down at her. She fought the urge to make sure her scars were covered. He seemed to take a deep breath, his chest expanding.

“So I was wondering . . . if you wanted to um . . go see Casablanca tomorrow? It’s a one night showing I think.”

“Sure. Sam likes Bogie.”

“No . . um . . just you?” He looked nervous, as if he hadn’t asked a girl out since his girlfriend was murdered. She didn’t know what to say, was so surprised at this. This girl boy stuff. Man woman stuff. She thought maybe Fox was using her as a test girl. He couldn’t really like her like that. Could he?

He stood a little uncomfortably close, waiting with an expectant expression. She didn’t want to slap him down. Wasn’t sure if she could ever like him like that. Anyone like that. She wanted to try though. To start doing things most people had already done. And it was a movie anyway, not like anything huge she thought.

“Sure.” She looked up and he smiled.

“Cool. I’ll pick you up at seven okay?” She nodded and took Samaj’s meat loaf out. She was smiling as she went to get him from his room. Until she noticed he was on the stairs, his expression angry.

Damn it. Damn it. He ran up the stairs, slamming his door. Lesk looked at Fox, who’d come up behind her.

“I’m sorry Lesk. I didn’t know you had something going with him. I’d never poach.”

“I don’t. It’s just . . . complicated Fox. Do you need me to get your computer back?”

“Nah. I asked my dad if I could use it for a couple of days. A project on tigers or something.”

“Oh. Cool. Thanks.” She stood, searching for something to say to ease the moment.

“It’s okay. I’ll go. I’ll see you tomorrow?” He stood at the foot of the stairs, holding his sandwich.

“You don’t have to go now. We can stay and eat or something.”

“Nah. I’ll bring it with me. It’s his house and all.” She nodded and he left. Leaving her to a solitary dinner. She ate and heated Samaj’s meal up again. She tapped at his door and got no answer.

“Sam. Ummm.. I’m leaving you some dinner if you get hungry.” She wanted to say something else, something to make it better. She left the plate on the floor, closing the door to her bedroom silently. She couldn’t get over the feeling that she’d lost something.

23

2005-11-17T01:12:46Z

28,277 / 50,000
(56.6%)

Your mission, should you choose to accept it.

Samaj and Lesk snuck out of the house like spies. Sexy spies. He’d gone all out. Black pants, black shirt. He’d dyed his sneakers black to match. She thought he looked ridiculous and told him so. He’d then donned a black face mask.

“You look like a burglar. Anyone who sees you will immediately call the police. And scream. Scream first.” she told him.

He looked at her with the sad puppy eyes. “Okay. You can keep the other stuff but ditch the mask. It’s weirding me out.”

He tore the mask off and his orange hair shone like a beacon in the dark. “That’s not working. How about you just put the mask over the top of your head?”

He pulled it down, obscuring his eyes.

“No. Here let me do it.” Lesk stood up on her toes, adjusting his hat.

“Better.”

The hat hung over his eyes like a great unibrow but didn’t cover them. He looked so funny and grumpy that she smiled at him. They trudged off to find Fox at the payphone. Samaj got his bike out and Lesk gingerly sat on his lap, not at all convinced this would work as he’d said it would. She kept picturing herself falling and being dumped on the ground. She had a vice grip on his waist though, she hoped she could hang on.

They made it to the payphone where Fox had said he’d meet them. He was nowhere in sight. Samaj hid his bike behind some bushes and they stood next to the payphone to wait for Fox. Lesk felt someone grab her from behind and opened her mouth to scream. A hand went over her mouth and she felt someone whispering in her ear. “It’s okay. It’s me, Fox!” Lesk nodded and he took his hand away. She grabbed Samaj’s arm, bringing him back.

“Your late.” Fox said. Lesk stared at him. He was even worse than Sam she thought. He’d actually applied those football player mark things on his face, black smears under his eyes. She smacked him before she could think about it. “Don’t go grabbing chicks like that. It scared the hell out of me.”

The wrinkles at the corner of his eyes crinkled. “Don’t take it so serious. We have to be careful here. We have to make sure no one and I do mean no one sees us. I am not going to freaking jail for this shit.” Lesk and Samaj nodded and Samaj’s eyes went extremely wide as Fox uncovered what he’d held in his hands. It was a box. A flat, shiny box. Lesk assumed it was the laptop. Samaj and Fox were cooing over it like it was Pamela Anderson or something. Was it weird to be jealous of an inanimate object? She thought. Probably.

“Man, this is sweet! Seriously sweet!”

“Yeah.” Fox caressed the top of the box like a lover, opening it up so they could see the screen.
“It’s my Father’s baby, so don’t screw with it. I mean it. If anything happens to this I am already underground. You get it?”

“Cool. No screwing of any sort.” Samaj caressed the box as Fox had. They spoke of the machine as if they were discussing a great baseball player. Lesk tuned it out, trying to ignore all the geekspeak. Boys and their unending need for toys. She leaned against a nearby tree, somehow comforted by the boy chatter. Like magpies in trees she thought, obsessed with anything shiny.

Her mother had told her to be careful of the magpies. If you stared at them too long they might peck out the shiny flesh of your eyes.

At the cessation of sound Lesk looked up. They’d started fiddling with the chord that connected the machine to the phone line.

“We could have used a wifi connection or even a cable connection but these are harder to trace. And they can only really be traced back to this line.” Samaj explained. Lesk nodded and went to help them rig the line up. They went back behind the phone booth. Samaj hunkering down in front of the laptop, typing away furiously. Fox watched, looking a little awed now and again at what Samaj was doing.

Samaj had his tongue between his teeth. Lesk had noticed he did that when he was working on something especially complicated. “Just as I thought. Too hard to get through like this.” He took a disk out of his pocket and popped it into the laptop’s drive.

“What did you put in there?!” Fox asked, a little panicky.

“Just a little virus, to open a hole wide enough that I can get in the backdoor. Now be quiet! I need to concentrate!” He fiddled, typing like a demon. His hands made Lesk dizzy so she closed her eyes. She waited. And waited. Until she could hear the laptop snap down. They got up, cut the connection chord, and started leaving. Fast. Samaj didn’t think they could trace it this fast but Lesk wasn’t waiting around for to find out.

Fox followed them home, the laptop protectively cradled in his arms.

They parked in back of the house, entering silently. Lesk didn’t think Samaj’s parents would give them too hard of a time but she didn’t want them involved. They’d done too much for her to want to get them in trouble. Fox sat the laptop down in Samaj’s room on his bed.

“What did you get?” Lesk asked.

“Mostly a lot of nothing. I think a lot of it is written in code. I can crack it eventually. I have some really powerful software. I managed to download what I thought would help. Research. Case histories. Financial records. This should tell us just about everything we want to know.” Samaj patted the disk he’d downloaded the info to.

“I’m making a couple of copies of this. In case . . just in case.” he said. In case he was killed she thought, her skin going ice cold at the thought.

“Let me try to run some of these files through. Maybe we can get something fairly fast.” He said, putting the disk in the computer.

“Are you guys hungry? I can get something from the kitchen.” Lesk asked. They were both staring at the flickering letters on the screen, mesmerized. Lesk sighed and went to the kitchen herself. They had to be hungry she thought. She fixed a sandwich for Samaj the way he liked it and heated up some soup for Fox. She brought everything up the stairs, along with some cokes.

They ate silently, never taking their eyes off the screen. Lesk perched on the side of Samaj’s bed, feeling like the ‘little woman’ and not liking it. She lied back on his bed and went to sleep with the clacking of computer keys in her head. At some point one of the boys had covered her with a blanket. She didn’t so much as stir at that. Samaj shook her awake, his face excited.

“We cracked it! We did it! Come look!” She wiped her eyes and got up slowly, staring at the light of the monitor. They’d done it. Actual words were appearing instead of squiggles. She smiled and started reading. She stopped smiling. This was . . mind blowing. They were into more than enhancing food. They were mutating humans, trying to change the very structures that made them human. And they were testing this. On people. She gasped as she read file after file. One in particular caught her eye. She could see the word; Failure in bold lettering.

CASE #9087654b

Subject was given a treatment of chemicals 38, c7, red99, and %64. Subject reacted favorably at first, enhanced senses and healing. After further tests it was revealed that subject’s mind was deteriorating. Had godlike feelings. Subject expressed the desire to be ‘complete’. That something was missing. Subject then killed one of the research animals. Then subject killed one of the research assistants. Subject removed the liver and tried to eat it. Head of Research has designated this experiment as a failure. Subject will be terminated and autopsied for further study.

That’s all it said, even in company files names were never used. Lesk felt almost like crying over this. This horror. To treat a human being like a lab rat. Worse than a lab rat. No wonder the guy went insane. That didn’t excuse his actions though. She’d find him. She would. But that idea in the back of her head, that she’d kill him, that was no longer an option. She wanted him alive. She wanted him alive so they could prove SPO did it. She knew this was him. They mentioned killing him, slicing him open for an autopsy. He’d gotten away somehow she thought. Almost glad for it. He’d escaped and these bastards never paid for what they did to him. Now he was out there. Insane, feral, violent. They’d created a monster and unleashed it onto the poor people who lived here.

Fox and Samaj were silent as well, trying to understand how people could be so horrible. In the name of science. Lesk shut the monitor off. Shut the images in her head off.

“It’s going to take a while to get the rest?” she asked.

“Yeah. The financial stuff has several more layers on it. I guess they cared more about the . . money aspects than the research.” Samaj blinked his eyes.

Lesk rubbed her eyes, feeling so tired. “Let’s go to bed. It’s late and I don’t want to think of this anymore.” she said. Fox was still staring at the dark monitor.

Samaj tapped him on the shoulder. “We got an extra cot if you want to stay the night?”

Fox shook his head, picking up the laptop. “Nah, but thanks. I need to get this back to dad before he goes apeshit.” He put on his jacket and started towards the back door.

“Thanks Fox.” Lesk called after him. He held his hand up and she watched as he disappeared.

Lesk looked at Samaj. “Jesus, Sam. What the hell are we getting into?”

“I used to think demons existed. Would get my dad to come in my room every night to make sure they were not under my bed. My mom finally convinced me they weren’t real. A figment of my imagination. Now, I’m not so sure. I think she was wrong.”

“You may be right.” Lesk bid him goodnight and went to her room. She hugged her pillow to her chest. Trying to sleep. She couldn’t. Even the usually comforting glow of the roses on the wallpaper seemed sinister to her. She stared at the ceiling, dry eyed. Piled the covers on top of her bed like a fort. She turned the ceiling fan on, the whirl of the blades eventually lulling her to sleep.

chapter 22

2005-11-16T02:08:51Z

26,395 / 50,000
(52.8%)

One week later
Lesk loved living with the West family. For once in her life she’d found some place that felt right. She felt comfortable here, with this family. She hadn’t gone back to school yet, she couldn’t quite bring herself to go back there.

She shuddered at the thought, to give up all that she’d gained. The confidence, the peace. To go back there with the monkeys was unthinkable. But she knew she’d eventually have to go back. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life as a high school drop out. They wouldn’t beat her. Not now.

Today she’d noticed a mirror in the bathroom. For the first time she didn’t look away from her reflection. She still thought her face looked horrific, like a gargoyle’s face. But she could look in the mirror now, look in her own eyes. And stand it. She could stand to look at herself. She’d never be pretty. She’d never look normal. Yet sometimes she forgot she had those scars entirely. And when she saw them now she saw them as a reminder of a really bad time in her life rather than a punishment for not being what her mother wanted. A beauty queen, a trophy child.

She’d never been good at being shiny. Her tarnish went right down to the bone some days.

She marveled at Samaj’s family. They ate together. Dinner. Lunch. Breakfast. At the same time. They talked to one another. With kindness and humor. With love. They touched each other. Hugs, kisses, intimate looks. She’d caught Mr. West kissing Mrs. West in the pantry before dinner the other day. She’d stood stunned at the site before realizing they’d probably be embarrassed if they saw her and scurried away.

Yesterday Mrs. West had even hugged her after they’d eaten dinner. Lesk had stood stiffly in her arms, her eyes wide. Thinking of it now her eyes swelled a little. These people reminded her what she’d never had. She’d been withought it too long now to ever get used to it now. It caused a pain in her heart when she saw it, when she thought of her mother. Her mother could have been like that once. She wondered if it was her fault that she’d turned out like that. Lonely, bitter, drunk. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t.

She sat in her new room. Her room, drawing. Mrs. West had gone out and bought her all new art supplies. Really expensive ones. Lesk tried to make her take them back but she’d just smiled. And left them with her. Lesk couldn’t resist them. Her fingers itchy. She’d spent her days drawing pictures. Some of her mother. Happy, angry, dead. She’d drawn her mother as she’d last seen her over and over again. Wearing out the red paint, smearing it on her fingers. Then she’d torn them up, burned them like firewood. She’d felt a little better after that. Her mind cleaner, clearer.

Samaj had come in at the smell of the fire and seen what she’d drawn. He’d helped her, lit the fires for her when her hands shook. He’d stayed with her all this time, never too far away. When she wanted him he always knew. Was always there. She almost hated him for that. That she’d needed someone, needed him so much. She thought she’d have killed herself had she been alone. Just walked off a bridge somewhere. Sometimes she hated him for that too. For depriving her of the silent convenience. The comfort of nothingness. Most days she loved him for it. He’d made being alive easier. A little easier every day.

She sat in her room, drawing again. Her current project was a portrait of Mrs. West. She wanted to give it to the family as thanks. She couldn’t get the eyes quite right though. That secret smile she always had in them. The small crinkles at the corner that never disappeared. Mrs. West could smile in the dark and you would still know it. Feel it. She shined. She shined brighter than anyone else Lesk had met. Sam had some of that she thought. Some of that bright shining smile right inside him because he was her’s. She was jealous of that, he knew exactly where he came from and had always had that comfort, that sunshine.

Mrs. West knocked lightly on her door, opening it with one of her smiles.

“A young handsome boy is here to see you.” she said.

“Boy?”

“I think he said his name was Fox.”

Lesk shot up, running for the door. She wanted to get to it before Samaj did. Mrs. West giggled as she skidded down the hall in her socks.

Fox had tried to visit once before. Samaj had turned him away, saying she wasn’t ready for visitors. Lesk had been angry at him, yelling that he had no right to turn him away. Then she broke down, crying. Realizing he was right. She wasn’t ready to see anyone right now. She’d locked herself in her room for a few days, taking food from Samaj only because he forced her to. Fox reminded her of her mother too. He knew what she was like firsthand.

Lesk came to a halting stop at the door, spotting Fox inside. He was wearing his team jacket, his hair wet. He must have come from practice she thought. He was always moist for some reason. Must be all the swimming she thought.

He held out his hand and she took it.

“Sorry about last time.” she said, hoping he wasn’t mad at Samaj. He’d only been doing what he’d thought was right after all.

“It’s cool. I knew he was probably right. It was too soon. It took a long time after . . . after. Before I could see anyone other than my mom and not be angry. Or really sad. It was like they all reminded me of her, made me angry that they were still here and she wasn’t.” He looked down, remembering she thought.

He was right to some degree. She did resent other people because they were alive. Breathing. When her mother wasn’t. Her mother had died long ago though she thought. The bitter husk was all she’d had left.

“Yeah. It’s been hard. Very hard. Every day it get’s less hard though. Every day it get’s a little better I think.”

“Yeah. I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of the pain completely but I think one day it might fade enough that I don’t think of her every day like I do now. I think I’d miss that though. Miss that last part of her that I have.”

Lesk nodded. She knew exactly what he meant. She led him into the living room, where they could talk more comfortably. She sat next to him on the huge sofa, staring at the dead fireplace, the burned logs still giving off some heat.

“I know. It’s like she’s still alive in some way as long as I grieve for her.”

“Yeah . . you think the same person killed them both don’t you?” He looked at his sneakers. She noticed the faded strings on them. A beat up old pair of sneakers. Probably had them for years.

She nodded, twisting her hands together. “I do. The police think I’m crazy. They think it was just an accident. But she never left that door open.” Lesk couldn’t let go of the door. Couldn’t drop that one fact. If you added everything else up and took away that then it was completely an accident. A perfect murder. But he’d forgotten it. Or maybe didn’t care. Lesk thought maybe he’d left it because he knew she’d know. He wanted her to know, that she was powerless to stop him. A warning she thought. To stay out of it.

He didn’t question her, didn’t look at her as if she was insane. They’d seen too much to dismiss it. Nothing was as it appeared to be anymore.

“You still want to find him? After all this?”

“Yeah. More than ever. He took something from me.” She gulped. “He took something from me that I didn’t think I wanted. Didn’t think I missed. She was my mom. I owe her more than this. I owe her . . . and myself . . justice. Those girls deserve it. Suz . . deserves it.” She saw him flinch as she said the name. She was instantly sorry, placing her hand on his arm.

Samaj came in then. As they sat together like that, her hand on his arm. He looked angry and she was sorry again. That she’d hurt him. She hadn’t talked to him like this, about how she’d felt. About what she wanted to do. She’d never been ready and to be honest he’d never been right for it. Fox had lost someone to violence. Lost someone the exact same way she’d lost someone. Out of the blue. Quick, quiet, devastating. Fox could understand what she was going through better than anyone else. He could tell her how he got through it. She hoped Samaj would understand but she didn’t think he would. He viewed her as his friend, his wounded dove. No sharing allowed. In many ways he was a boy to Fox’s man.

She would show him that she loved him best she thought. Fox was her friend. Samaj was her best friend. Her soul friend. She’d have to find some way to convince him of that.

He stomped in, his brows cocked. His orange hair standing on end like a cat’s.

“What’s he doing here?” He asked, his mouth set in a sullen pout.

“Sam, he’s my friend. He came to visit. We’re thinking of starting the investigation again. Looking at SPO like we’d planned.” She added the last part in, hoping that by reminding him he was a vital part of it he’d be less mad.

“Are you crazy?! He killed your mom to stop you from investigating. Now you want to start again? He’s gonna kill you next time!” He ran his fingers through his hair, pacing. Lesk got up, grabbing his shoulder.

“Look at me okay?” She looked in his eyes, seeing the pain. The fear. “I have to do this. For all I know he’s going to kill me anyway. He hinted as much. And he will kill again. If not me, then some other poor girl. I have to stop him. We have to stop him. For Suz . . and my mom. We have to.” Her eyes welled up with tears and she wrapped her arms around herself.

“Don’t cry Tree Girl. I’ll help. But you have to be careful. You can’t go off all willy nilly withought me . . or Fox.” He said the last part grudgingly, almost spitting the name out.

“Willy nilly?” she smiled through her tears.

“Yeah. I’m like fifty now. You’ve aged me thirty years. See the gray hair.” He pointed towards his orange locks.

She peered at his head. “I only see orange dude.”

“Well I died them.” he smiled. She smiled. Then she noticed Fox looking at them oddly. They must seem so weird she thought. Like weird little film characters on the fringe of society.

She sat down next to him, pulling a resisting Samaj down with her.

“Plan? Anyone?” she looked expectantly at them.

Fox quirked his mouth. “Maybe we should do what we were going to . . before. Samaj, you still up for it?” He looked challengingly at him.

Samaj puffed out his chest. “Yeah. Get me a laptop and a connection and I can do it.”

Fox puffed out his chest as well. “My dad has one I can borrow and we can use one of the payphones for a connection. He has some good security on it but your going to have to hack it in under thirty minutes.”

“No problem.”

“Not for me either.”

They stared at each other like gorillas battling for supremacy. Lesk sighed in exasperation.

“Okay you two monkeys, dial down the man juice for like a minute.”

They both looked at her at the same time.

“Man juice?” Samaj asked, incredulous.

“Allright. I’ve had enough. Let’s play some Donkey Kong or something. You can beat each other up like the monkeys you are. How long do you need to get ready for the SPO thing?”

Samaj rolled his eyes and got the game system out. “If I have to do it in thirty minutes I need to get a feel for the system before and work out a plan. Say, a week.”

“Is that allright, Fox?” she asked him as he got down on the floor, a controller in his hand.

“Yeah.” he grunted. They were already playing, grunting like monkeys. Men, she thought. She stayed for a few minutes and then quietly slipped away. Watching boys play video games was not her idea of a grand old time. She went up to her room, content that they were bonding at last.

chapter 21

2005-11-14T02:34:28Z

23,181 / 50,000
(46.4%)

He didn’t know what to say to her. She could see that. But he held on and she was thankful. The warmth taking some of her chill away. She felt so cold now.

“I’m sorry about your Mum. I know she wasn’t all that good to you but she was your mum so I’m sorry.” He looked earnestly at her, his eyes reminding her of a foppish puppy.

“Thanks. Thanks for coming and being here. It means a lot.” She tried not to cry but three tears escaped anyway, scraping the skin on her face. She felt unbearable sensitive.

“They think . . they think it was an accident.”

“Wasn’t it?”

“No.” She was absolutely convinced of it. “Her door was open. She never left it like that. She always closed it.”

She saw a look cross his face, she knew he thought she was mistaken. That it was all just an accident.

“So what ‘s gonna happen to you?”

“I dunno. If they can find my dad then maybe I can stay with him. But they can’t find him they said. So I really don’t know what the hell to do.” She stared at the wall, feeling hopeless.

“Well. Just sayin’. But I talked to my parents before we came over and they said it was cool if you stayed with us. If you want to that is. It’s just that we have this huge house and lots of room and if it’s um.. cool .. Um.” He spoke frantically, almost pushing the words out.

“I don’t know what to say Sam. I . . thank you. You are . . my best friend.” She sobbed resting her head on his chest.

“Um.. Okay. Er.. it’s gonna be okay.” The words came out stiffly, as if he wasn’t used to comforting people. Lesk sat up.

“Sorry. I’m getting your shirt all wet. Can we.. Can we go now? I really really can’t stand hospitals.”

“Me neither. If your doctor said it was cool then yeah, let’s go. My parents are waiting in the waiting room thing. They thought it was best that I go in first. ‘Cause of . . stuff and all.”

“Thanks.” She got up, gathering her meager possessions and putting them in a plastic bag. They walked out and she winced at the bright lights in the hall. Samaj’s parents stood up when they saw them, sympathy on their faces.

Samaj had his arm around her. “She wants to stay with us.”

Lesk looked at them. “Thank you very much. I really appreciate this.”

His father stepped forward, patting her awkwardly on the head. “Any friend of Sam’s always has a home with us. Cindy and I welcome you to our home. It’s big enough for twenty of you.” He smiled at that and Samaj’s mother, Cindy, nodded in agreement.

She signed the release form the hospital had for her and left with the West family. They had a smaller station wagon, ancient wood paneling cracking on the side. She got into the back with Samaj, riding to their home with her hand in his. She thought only of the warmth. Just concentrate on that. The sun seemed too bright, the trees too green. That strong earthly smell wafting through the opened window, reminding her of living things. Growing, alive things. They were going to put her mother in there she thought. In that damp ground, the earth swallowing her lifeless corpse up.

Lesk covered her mouth, trying to stem her nausea. Swallowing over and over again to get the taste out of her throat. It seemed everything she saw was a reminder. A reminder that things were different now. As bad as it was living with her mom, she was used to it. There were certain rituals, things that happened every day that she didn’t know if she could live withought. That expectation that this day would be like the next. And the next. That she knew just what to say and do. Now it was if she was floating, with no handhold. Nothing to grab on to. She squeezed Samaj’s hand, glad that at least she had something to grab onto her.

They pulled into the long driveway. She marveled again at the sheer size of the place. She’d been there so many times visiting Samaj but it still made her gasp the first time she caught a glimpse of it. She loved the gothic castle feel of the great big house.

She followed Samaj and his parents as they entered the house. His father input the security code for their alarm system and with a soft beep the door opened.

Mr. West strode toward the kitchen. “How about some blueberry muffins? They always cheer the little stinker up.” He ruffled Samaj’s hair. “Why don’t you show Lesk to the Rose Room? That’s a nice choice.”

Mrs. West shooed them away. “Go on. I’m sure she’d like to put away her things and maybe take a rest.”

Lesk smile gratefully at her. She did feel tired. Her bones ached. Samaj took her hand and led her up the stairs. They went past his room to the end of the hall. Lesk had never seen this room before. “Sam, why do they call it the Rose Room?”

Samaj turned on the light and she saw why. The room was covered in the oddest wallpaper. Mismatched roses of every shape and colored dotted the walls. The bed was pink, a light pink. A cream bedspread covered it.

“Woah.” she said.

“I think it belonged to the former owner’s grandma or something.”

“She liked roses.”

“Ya think?” he grinned at her, twirling around on the carpet.

“I think. Maybe they won’t be so bad in the dark.”

“Some of them glow.”

“Get out. Really?”

“Yeah. She must have painted them with that special paint or something.”

“That is awesome. Very awesome.”

“Oh yes. Yes.”

They grinned at each other like loons in the ridiculous room.

“So I’ll leave you? If you want?”

“Yeah. I think I’m gonna take a little nap Sam. I’m tired. Would you wake me up for the muffins? I don’t want to miss those.”

“Sure. Um.. I’ll just go now. But I’m just down the hall so you can call me if you need me?” he said, backing out of the room.

“Yeah.” She watched him leave, shutting the door behind him. She looked around the room. It wasn’t her room but it would work for now she thought. She turned the light off and lay down on the bed. The covers looked so perfect she didn’t want to disturb them so she lied on top of them, pressing her face into the pillow. She looked up and smiled. The yellow roses really did glow.

chapter 20

2005-11-13T03:38:08Z

22,038 / 50,000
(44.1%)

Lesk awoke, groggy and grumpy. It took a minute before she remembered. She held herself perfectly still, hoping that when she opened her eyes it would, in fact, all be a dream.

She squeezed her eyes shut and then slowly. Very slowly. Opened them. She was in the hospital. In a white cloth gown.

She felt a breeze stir through the room, making the curtains over the windows sway in the bright sunshine.

She was dead. Her mother was dead. Dead. When she closed her eyes she could see the body, lying in and out. Red covering the room. Red covering everything.

She remembered puking on the floor and felt the urge to do so again. She was tethered to the bed by an iv. She wanted to pull it out, to rip it from her flesh. So she could feel it. Feel anything, see anything, but that body.

She felt like she should be crying. Her eyes were dry. Painfully dry.

Her mother was a body. No longer a person. No longer that fiery tyrant lurking in her lair.

Lesk tried remembering something good about her mother. The good times. Something fun. Love. Comfort. Anything.

Her memories of her mother were of pain and degradation. Of terror and hatred. It shouldn’t be like that she thought. She shouldn’t remember her mother like that.

She thought back. As far as she could possibly remember. Her earliest memories of her mother.

She remembered being warm. Her mother holding her, her father smiling at them. A friendly bear and his clan.

She remembered the first dress. The first make over. How fun it was. How she’d loved the pretty pink dress and the pretty paint her mother put on her face. She’d enjoyed it once. Until it had become Hell, her mother the Devil.

She would always remember the worst times, the times when she felt like killing herself and leaving her rotting corpse for her drunk mother to find. She’d imagined her mother wouldn’t notice for days, maybe weeks. Until she started to stink.

But she was glad she’d remembered something good. Some clue that her mother had an affection for her only child. She’d hold that.

She sat up, folding her hands in her lap. Accident. They’d said accident she thought. It couldn’t be. The door was open. Her mother never ever left that door open. Even so stinking drunk that she’d passed out in a pool of her own vomit. That door was shut and locked.

Lesk thought maybe her mother believed she would sneak into her room at night for comfort or something. Infect her with the ugly. Or maybe she just couldn’t stand the thought of her daughter bringing horror into her own personal space.

Whatever her reasons, Lesk knew withought a shadow of a doubt, that it was murder. If her mother had gone to take a bath the door would have been locked. She wondered if it were her fault. If she’d caused it.

She knew she had. Her questions. Her sleuthing. Her incessant need to know had brought the killer down on her mother. She felt like ice, her skin seemed to harden, frozen over. She didn’t want to be here in this place. It looked too much like the white prison. She was scared, wondering if she was next. She knew he wouldn’t stop. He liked killing too much, she thought he was looking for something. Her mother had been a message. Too close.

SPO must mean something to him. Be important somehow.

She wondered vaguely where she would go from here. She wouldn’t stay in this place. She had to get out. Find him or die trying. She was her mother. Maybe she was a horrible person. She was definitely not a candidate for mother of the year. She belonged to me she thought. She was mine. I’ve had too much taken from me. It’s time to take back.

A nurse entered then, her broad face registering surprise that she was up.

“Ahh. Let me go get Doctor Stevens. He wanted to talk to you when you woke. There are some police officers waiting as well.” She nodded firmly and left, presumably to get the doctor.

Lesk hoped he was one of the good ones. They were so few and far between.

She hated doctors usually. They always had this smug sneer on their faces, as if a few years of medical school made them better. They’d gotten the humanity bred out of them long ago, husks left. Husks with great big brains and god complexes.

She absently fiddled with the tassels on her blanket. Twisting, twisting, release. Twisting, twisting, release. She looked up as the doctor entered. He looked normal enough she thought. Old, salt and pepper hair, stern face.

She liked his wrinkles. They were comforting somehow. As if he was a lived in house or a well loved piece of furniture. She pictured him as a big stuffed chair and felt the urge to smile.

She remembered again. How could she have forgotten so soon? She thought.

“Miss Holestrum? I’m Doctor Stevens. We admitted you after the . . . incident. You were dehydrated and you went into shock a little. You feel better now?” His voice was deep. He’d be a baritone she thought. Trying to think of anything but the ‘incident’. Incident.

“Yes. Um.. yes. Thank you Doctor Stevens.”

“I’m going to do a little checkup to make sure your improving then the good detectives would like a word.”

“Okay.” Please no needles. Please no needles. She had an almost invisible desire to please but if he brought the needles out she may have to make a run for it.

She breathed a sigh of relief as he mostly went through the normal things. Temperature. Blood Pressure. Ears. Eyes. Cough? Yes I will cough she thought, playing through the imaginary script in her head.

He stood back. “Allright. Looks good. Your still dehydrated but not much. Remember to drink lots of water. I don’t think you’ve been taking care of yourself very well.”

She nodded, trying to cover her left side with her hair again. She’d forgotten for a minute. The beast that ruled her life. Incidents will do that she thought.

The doctor left and two men in suits came in. One very fat, the remains of a barbq dinner on his lips and chin. The other tall and gangly, dark glasses over his eyes. The fat one had mean eyes she thought. Little piggy pin pricks in his giant face. He stepped forward.

“Miss Holestrum, I am detective Mouch and this is my partner detective French.” He pointed at the gangly man who nodded at her.

“Yes.”

“We have a few questions for you. About your mothers death. We’d like you to tell us everything that happened. My partner will record this. Is that allright?”

“Yes.”

They sat down and the thin man took out a recorder, flicking it on with his thumb. The fat detective leaned over, his breath smelling of pork. She jerked back, escaping the smell of rot. Of flesh burned and decayed.

“Let the record show that the minor, Lesk Holestrum, has volunteered to answer our questions. Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Now tell us everything that happened.”

“I woke up. I don’t know why, I think I may have heard something. I went to get something to eat and I saw that my mother’s door was opened.”

“Was this unusual?” The thin man asked.

“Yes. Very. She never left her door opened.”

“Never?” The fat man interjected.

“Never. I walked in and I could see that her blankets were on the floor. She was usually pretty messy so I didn’t pay much attention. I saw something in the bathroom. A flash of red. When I went in I could see her right away.”

Lesk stopped, seeing it all over again. She felt the urge to vomit. All on their nice suits.

“It’s okay Miss Holestrum. Take your time.” The thin man said. She liked him best she thought, even though his eyes were covered.

“So I went outside to tell someone. To get help. They called the paramedics to come but I knew she was dead.”

“How did you know?” The fat man asked.

“Too much blood. There was just . . too much.”

She could picture it. Covering the walls, the door. Even the ceiling.

“Then I covered her. It wasn’t right. She was naked. They would all see her. So I put the blanket over her. Over her face. Then I puked. And I must have passed out . . now I’m here.”

She put her face in her hands, shaking.

“This looks like your standard accidental death. We’ll wait for the autopsy and go from there.” the fat detective said.

“Autopsy?” she asked, horrified. Her mother was dead and now they were going to cut her?

“It’s standard for these types of cases. Women her age rarely just fall and die like this. But it looks like that’s what happened. We just have to make sure.” the thin detective said.

“Fine.” She wanted them to leave, to disappear.

“This is not really our department but we’ve contacted a social worker to help you find a place. As you’re a minor and she was your only guardian.” the thin man said, as they were standing up to leave.

“But my father. I have a father.” she said. He’d come for her, she knew it. He’d come and it would be better. She would be safe. She wasn’t going to stay at some strangers house.

“You’ll have to take that up with the worker. We are trying to locate him though, to ask him some questions but right now we’re ruling it an accident. Also, we’d prefer it if you didn’t leave town.” the fat detective said. They put on their hats and left.

Lesk was stunned. Don’t leave town? That’s what you said to suspects. Murder suspects. How could they think I killed my mom? This is what happens in those monster movies where the hideous old hag monster is burned alive. The villagers standing around in a circle, lighting the torches. The agonized screaming of the poor monster.

Frankenstein, we hardly knew ye.

She pulled the covers over her head. The darkness washing over her, a giant womb. She closed her eyes, trying to ignore the sharp smell of antiseptic. She just wanted to be safe. She only wanted to be safe. That looked like an unattainable goal.

Hot tears fell, salty to the taste, burning her cheeks.

“Lesk?” She heard a faint voice but burrowed deeper, ignoring it.

“Lesk? Tree Girl?”

Samaj. She threw the blankets off, sobbing at the site of him. His orange hair drooping like a wilted flower. His eyes sad.

She opened her arms and he jumped in. Smelling of baby powder and hair spray.

“What took you so long?”

end of 17, 18-19

2005-11-12T00:09:04Z

20,187 / 50,000
(40.4%)

They had to pass through the security check point before going in. A burly guard with an astonishingly thick neck glared at them as she checked out their names on the list. She pointed an angry finger towards the front door and gave them little sticker passes with barcodes on them.

Samaj stared at the guard wonderingly which may have had something to do with her hostility.

As they walked towards the front door he whispered “It’s like seeing godzilla.”

She elbowed him in the ribs, quite satisfied with the ‘woof’ sound he made.

The building was so big. And shiny. Lesk turned her head away from the sheen. They entered, and Lesk heard a faint beep. The scanner atop the door beeped and scanned the barcode stickers they’d been given. Then beeped twice and the inner door opened so they could enter.

“Science Fiction.” Samaj said.

“Totally.” she answered. All this for synthetic honey she thought. For honey?

They went forward and were greeted by a smiling woman in a white lab coat. Her hair was the color of new wheat and her eyes strangely serene.

“Hi! I am Cindy Weiss! You must be the kids from the school newspaper! SPO is always glad to help the community! I’ve been authorized to lead you on a tour of some of our less . . . sensitive areas. Please do come forward.”

She gestured towards a boardroom of sorts. They had set up a projection screen of sorts.

They sat down and she turned the lights off.

“This is an introductory presentation so you can get an idea of what we do here. Please enjoy.”

She started off the projector. Lesk tried to pay more attention to the presentation thing but it was so horribly boring. She absently turned the recorder on so she could take notes later.

It looked like they made honey, honey that also contained all sorts of vitamins. So you could use it every day and keep healthy. Lesk scratched her nose. They were never going to get anywhere just sitting here.

She found Cindy and asked for the bathroom. She gave her directions and looked back at the screen.

Well some people find it engrossing I guess she thought.

She marveled at the building. Everything looked like it was covered with steel. Stainless steel. It was a bit like walking into a building made of funhouse glass. The effect was creepy. She passed the bathroom up and found a room marked ‘research and development’. Jackpot she thought.

She walked in and saw what looked like Frankenstein’s laboratory. A bunch of vials and odd colored chemicals bubbling ominously. All this for some honey? Weird.

She was stopped near the door by an irate man in a lab coat.

“You! What are you doing here?! Phillip we may need to call security!”

She blushed. “Er.. I’m with the school newspaper? Looking for the bathroom?”

His eyebrows looked like thick worms perched over his eyes as he scowled at her.

“Well this . . is not the bathroom! Go out to the left and keep going. You should see it.”

She left, or rather, ran, from the room. That was so freak show she thought. Why would you need all that stuff for synthetic honey? Why would you need all this security? Unless . . you were doing something else. Something more sinister. If you could add vitamins, what else could you add? What could you change?

She was pretty sure she wasn’t going to find the answers here. At least not legally. She decided to rope Samaj into hacking one the computers here. Maybe he could find something that would tell them exactly what they were doing at the nice offices of SPO.

Lesk walked back into the board room. The Cindy woman glanced a little suspiciously at her but was too fascinated by the flickering presentation to pay too much attention.

“Dude, you were gone a long time. You missed the bee sex frenzy.” Samaj whispered.

“I snuck into one of the labs I think. They are doing something weird, Sam.”

“Weirder than bee sex frenzy?”

“Yeah.”

She turned her attention to the screen, picking up her recorder from under her chair. It was nearing the end she thought. They were talking about how the technology being created at SPO would change the food processing world forever. That soon all food would be engineered to help all of humanity.

So why do they sound like Bond villains? she thought. That guy in the lab looked like a prime candidate for a villain. Creepy Eyebrow Man. Or The Browinator.

It ended with all of the men in lab coats smiling and optimistic. That was always a bad sign she thought.

Cindy turned on the lights, smiling as they clapped half heartedly. She led them on a small tour that mainly consisted of the cafeteria and bathroom. Woohoo.

“SPO aims to revolutionalise how we eat! I hope you students realize how lucky you are to get this tour. We hardly ever let civilians in.” Cindy said, smiling again.

Civilians? She makes it sound like a nuclear power plant or something. Lesk was glad when the tour ended. Glad when the chirpy Cindy finally shut up.

She led them out of the building.

“Thank you so much for coming to take the tour! Please do send a copy of the article when it comes out. The lab guys will get a great kick out of it!” She firmly closed the door and Lesk heard the beeping again.

What article she thought. It’s not like you told me anything at all useful. They hadn’t learned anything. Other than some suspicious behavior and some very weird security, they were right back at where they started.

The burly security guard escorted them to their car. Lesk breathed a sigh of relief as soon as they’d lost sight of the shiny building.

“Weird.” Samaj said.

“Yeah. I think you guys were onto something. They are definitely doing more than honey manufacture. I think it might be something like gene manipulation.” Fox said.

“Huh?” Lesk looked googly eyed at him. How the hell did he get gene manipulation?

“From the film.” He said, answering her unspoken question.

“They showed a man I’d seen before. Dr. Rammestein. He was doing research in Germany on gene manipulation. Trying to splice human DNA with animal DNA to make humans ‘better’. I think he got kicked out of Germany for it. And they never heard from him again. But if he’s working here. This is bad.”

Lesk couldn’t quite wrap her mind around the DNA thing. She pictured a kid with a badgers snout. So very strange.

“Why would you want to splice an animals DNA with a humans, Fox?” she asked.

“Think about it. Say you were born blind. You splice some eagle DNA in there and wham! You can see. Really well. And you wouldn’t even have to use it just for defective humans. Everyone wants to see better. Hear better. You could create super humans. The problem is, you just can’t go mucking around with human DNA. It’s too fragile. Too easily mutated. You come up with monsters instead.”

“No wonder he got kicked out of Germany.”

“Yeah.” Samaj said.

Lesk wondered what kind of people would want to fool with humans like that. What if they’ve already done some of it? She thought, picturing all of the weird chemicals bubbling in the lab. And that was just one. The building was full of them.

“Sam, do you think you could hack into one of the computers at SPO? To find out more?”

“I think so. But we’d have to use a laptop. I have a feeling they’d have really good security. But what I’d like to know is what this has to do with murder?”

Lesk went silent, thinking.

“Well, say you were coming up with a product, a world changing science? You’d have to test it out on people right? And don’t they kill and dissect animals after they’ve tested on them?”

“Gross. Criminally gross. But what about the notes you’ve gotten?”

“It might be a completely different person. Plenty of people enjoy fucking with me. Look Sam, all I’m saying is that we try. Okay?”

“Okay. But I still vote for Dave. That guy’s a tool.”

Lesk wished it were Dave. Because this seemed like a whole mess of trouble that she did not want to be involved in. Fox had gone quiet. Too late Lesk remember about his girlfriend. It was bad enough to think she’d been murdered horribly. But experimented on too?

It was a wonder the poor guy was still sane.

Chapter 18

Why!! Why! Why! That bitch figured something out. I know she did. Why else would she go there? Fuck. I knew I should have gone back for it. Those damn hick cops couldn’t find their asses in the dark. Fuck.

I can fix it. I can fix this. Just kill her early. A little early that’s all.

And then it’s ruined. Everything will be ruined. She has to be last. She’s the last piece. I can’t make it work like that! Stupid bitch! Bitches ruin everything.

Calm. Calm down. It’s fine. It’s perfectly fine.

Think. I need her to be distracted. To stop whatever she’s doing for now. I need to keep her contained. Keep her here.

What? What.

Ahhh. That’s good. That’s really good. That’s what I’ll do. I don’t need her pieces so I can make it look like an accident. Accidents are good. They happen all the time.

People die every day.

Chapter 19

Lesk got home still thinking about SPO. Samaj had said he’d start trying to hack the computers there so hopefully they’d have more information soon.

She put on her footie pajamas for comfort, curling up in her bed. Around midnight she woke up, thinking she’d heard something. She looked for the source of the noise but everything was locked. All was quiet. She shrugged and went back to sleep.

She woke up blearily squinting at the clock near her bed. Her stomach rumbled and she remembered she’d not eaten the night before. She shuffled off to breakfast, mouth watering at the prospect of cold cereal.

Her mother’s door was open. Her mother never left the door open. Lesk pried it open, knowing something was wrong. It felt wrong.

Her mother’s bed was empty, the covers strewn on the floor. She quietly made her way to the master bathroom. She could see red. Red. Wet.

Her mother lay both in and out of the bathtub. Her legs extended past the toilet but her head was in the bathtub. Her face was horrific, mouth open in a scream or a gasp. Flashes of red on her face and naked body.

The tub was full of red. Blood she thought absently. The red was blood. The smell hit her then. That metallic smell. That earthly decay. Rotting flesh. She puked on the floor and ran screaming from the room. She ran out of the house, her only thought to escape it.

A neighbor found her and walked into the house. He saw her mother and gasped, running to call the ambulance. Lesk knew it would do no good. Her mother was dead.

She was naked Lesk thought. Her mother was naked. She wouldn’t want them to see her naked. She picked up a blanket from her mother’s bedroom floor and put it over her body, covering her nudity. She cried as she did it, gagging more in the bathroom. She’d expelled all of the food in her stomach so they were dry heaves. She sobbed, staying in the room. She didn’t want to leave her there. Alone. She couldn’t leave her alone.

The paramedics came. They rushed her out of the room so they could get to her mother better. After a minute or two they came out solemn eyed. They were kind she thought, as they checked her out. They gave her a breathing mask and a shot. So she wouldn’t go into shock she thought they said. She closed her eyes, woozy. This will all be a dream she thought. I’ll just wake up and it’ll all be a dream.

Why can’t I wake up?

Why can’t I wake up?

16-17

2005-11-11T02:33:34Z

This is only the first half of 17. >_< Inspiration 20%.

18,094 / 50,000
(36.2%)

Chapter 16

They dropped Lesk home, Samaj promising to call her later. Lesk found the whole thing more than slightly weird. She had a song lyric propped up beside her window “Spending my days writing my suicide letter.”. She always felt a little like that. That she was spending her time trying to convince herself it was fine to die, that it was even expected of her.

She draped a black scarf over the television before turning it on. These days even the reflective glare was too much for her. The news was on again. Lesk knew they must have found the girl and interrupted some inane sitcom for the business of death.

The newsman, a young somber looking fellow with wire framed glasses, stared earnestly into the camera as he repeated again and again what a ‘tragedy’ it was. Tragic. Tragedy.

“The body of the young woman was found early this evening. The police have confirmed that it looks as though she was killed by the same man as the other two teenage girls.”

He never said her name she thought. Glory. An angel’s name. She wondered what he took from Glory.

“Police have stated that there is no need to panic. They feel that they are on their way to finding this madman. But they have advised that girls seventeen and under should be extra careful. Parents should escort them to and from school.”

That’s not going to help. Nothing will. He’s an animal. A cold blooded . . no. Hot blooded killer. He enjoys it she thought. Right now he’s hunting for another. Hunting for a girl with something he wants.

She had something he wanted. Lesk was scared he’d come and collect it. She thought about all they’d seen. All they’d heard. She wrote down the suspects, one by one.

Dave. He was a good suspect. Was he a killer off as well as on the court? Did he have a connection to the weird SPO? There was that history of abuse too. Whether self inflicted or not, he’d been through some truly horrific things. What put her off him was the fact that she really wanted him to be the killer. Asshole. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Lesk didn’t like that he seemed the obvious choice.

Fox. She had to put him there. He was connected. And though he was helping them a lot to find the actual murdered, that could all be part of his plan.

It had to be someone from town. Someone who lived with them all. How else would he know everything about them? Enough to take who he wanted, who had what he wanted.

She wasn’t dropping the SPO thing either. Maybe they’d find something Thursday.
They had to. Because more girls would die.

Chapter 17

They’d set up the tour of SPO for Thursday. Lesk got out her old tape recorder so she wouldn’t miss anything. She felt a little ridiculous, going on a spy mission. None of them looked anything like James Bond. She was glad her mother had stopped bothering her but the ominous quiet coming from her mother’s room was disconcerting. Her mother was never that quiet. Unless she was planning something.

She tried to subvert her snort of laughter at the sight of Samaj. He had apparently decided to don a disguise. He had on thick black glasses, with a piece of tape in the middle. He wore crisp black trousers and a white dress shirt with a pocket protector in the front pocket. He had a shaggy brown wig atop his orange hair.

“Sam! You look like one of those guys from revenge of the nerds! You dork!” She took off his pocket protector and untucked the shirt. She fluffed out the collar and fixed the shaggy wig until it looked halfway decent.

“Now you look like a dirty yet cosmopolitan journalist.”

Samaj picked up the pocket protector, pouting.

“But I wanted to go in disguise. Like a ninja. A nerd ninja.”

“And you still are. I’d have never recognized you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I guess that’s cool then. We picking up Fish Boy on the way?”

“Yeah. He said he’d meet us at the bus depot.”

“Cool.”

She saw Fox as soon as they pulled in the bus depot, his hands in his windbreaker. He looked sad and she wondered if he was still thinking about Glory. If it reminded him of his dead girlfriend. His dead girl. She thought that it did. As long as he stayed in this town he’d be reminded every day of her. He could marry, father several children, even have some grandkids.

But as long as he stayed here he would be near her. Near the memory of her.

She wondered how he didn’t go insane from it.

Samaj and Fox did the head nod thing again. Lesk would never get that. He’d brought along some headphones. Samaj and Lesk took the hint and let him be.

She tried to imagine how it would feel like to lose someone you loved so much. How it would feel to know that they were put through so much pain before they died. And that the person putting them through that pain had enjoyed, even loved it.

She’d never loved someone like that. That you would be willing to put yourself through such pain for the love of another person. She didn’t think she’d ever want to love like that.

They arrived at the offices of SPO, a somber group. Samaj glared at Fox, blaming him for the bum out. Lesk touched his arm, her eyes evocative. He looked down at the ground, ashamed.

She touched his arm “Sam, it’s okay. Just give him a break. Okay?”

He nodded and they left the car. Fox got out, pulling his press identification out of his pocket. He handed Lesk and Samaj pins that stated they were on the school newspaper staff.

“I told them we just wanted a tour of the place. That all the school newspaper staff were really interested in science. So act . . nerdy or something. Like you dig all the science mumbo.”

Samaj and Lesk nodded solemnly. Lesk thought they weren’t so much James Bond as Truman Capote. Which was way cooler.

chapter 15

2005-11-10T01:52:52Z

17,035 / 50,000
(34.1%)

Chapter 15

Fox arrived later that afternoon. He drove up in an incredibly old Toyota. Lesk wondered how it was still drive able. The roof was rusted, he’d put a garbage bag over the side window presumably because it was broken. And on the side like a giant question mark, he’d stuck a sticker of a yellow blowfish winking.

Lesk pointed at it and Samaj looked at her.

“Dude likes fish is all.”

She giggled at him. Somehow it made her like Fox a little more, the imperfection that was his car. He leaned against it, daring them to comment.

“It’s so ugly it’s cute, Fox.” Lesk said. He rolled his eyes at her, opening the back door for her to enter.

“Your chariot awaits milady.” Samaj said, grinning at her. Lesk pushed him and they got in.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Lesk asked, staring dubiously at the holes in the top of the car. She poked the rusty edges of the holes.

“Crusty.” she said. Fox drove on. “It’s lasted me for three years so I’d say it was safe. I call it the Blowfish Tank.”

“I’m not even going to go into that Fox.” she replied.

Samaj contented himself with pulling apart the fabric that drooped from the ceiling. Lesk slapped his hand.

“Don’t do that Sam!” he pouted and started strumming a beat on the side of the armrest.

They made it to the clerk of court’s office pretty fast. Lesk thought Fox drove a little too fast for her liking. But it wasn’t like a crash would make the car look any worse.

He got out, straightened his clothes.

“Now I’m telling Mrs. Foster that my Dad is working on a case and asked me to help in the research. He’s done it before so that won’t be too much of a problem. You might be. I’ll have to tell her you’re my friends or something and that you came ‘cause we’re going somewhere after and you needed the ride. It’ll work. I hope. Just er.. stay quiet.”

They walked in and a woman who Lesk presumed was Mrs. Foster sat at the desk in front. She wore enormous glasses that perched on the tip of her nose as if they would fall off at any time.

Fox gave her the story he’d come up with. She peered at Lesk and Samaj, her eyes widening. Lesk thought they must not look like the kind of people Fox normally hung out with. But she nodded and opened the door for him.

Fox strode forward confidently as if he knew exactly where they were going. He stopped at a door marked ‘Police Records: Official Personal Only’. He tried to open it and found the door was locked.

“Damn. Damn. They almost never lock it! Now what are we going to . . . Lesk?!”

Lesk had removed a pin from her hair and was fiddling with the door. She heard a click and the lock released. Ridiculous she thought. That the police lock was so easy. She hadn’t even had to go in to her double jointed pick. She looked back at Samaj and Fox who both had identical expressions of bafflement on their faces.

“You don’t want to know.” she said, entering the room. They closed it after they’d entered, dimming the lights in case anyone came in.

Fox pointed towards the shelves on the right. “Those are most likely to hold the juvenile records that have been sealed.”

He pointed towards the shelves on the left. “The sexual harassment suit should be there. I’m going to look through the database to see if they have anything really recent that hasn’t been filed here yet.”

Samaj tool the shelves on the left and Lesk took the ones on the right. She looked for Dave by his last name. There were several Renquests. One looked like Dave but really old. It must be his father she thought, reading ahead.

She cursed. He had several domestic violence reports on his record. When Dave was seven the man had apparently killed his little sister and went away for life. Dave was looking better and better for this all the time she thought.

She found something towards the end of the stack. It was Dave’s file and it had a yellow sticker on it. Must be the sealed records. She opened it and gasped. He’d been admitted to the hospital multiple times before seven. That had died down some after his Dad went away but they picked up a little at nine. Almost once every four months. His mother? But they hadn’t taken him away she saw. They must have just concluded he was a destructive kid. Shit. She quickly wrote his father’s name down and a couple of the more recent hospitalization dates.

She came out of the stacks and stood near Fox.

“Find anything Fox?”

He squinted at the screen. “It looks like he went into the hospital about a year ago for drug treatment. They busted him and sentenced him to treatment instead of jail.”

“I found a bunch of hospitalizations here. Maybe injuries? I think he might have been abused as a child.”

“If he’s a sociopath they could be self inflicted.” Fox said.

Samaj came out then, carrying a couple of pages. “Dude, some sick ass stuff. That Dave guy tried to rape a freshman girl. When she reported it he stalked her, convinced everyone at school she was a liar and a slut, and eventually just drove her out of town. She signed this statement before she left though. About what he did. Killed her fucking cat and left the severed head in her bed. He’s been watching too damn many movies.”

“Yeah.” Lesk said, sickened. She was scared of him now and she hadn’t been before, not really. He was just the local asshole. Rapist. Cat Killer. Sociopath.

Samaj stuffed the papers in his pants and they got out of there before someone came along. She spent the car ride home trying desperately not to visualize dead cats.

chapter 13-14

2005-11-09T01:46:10Z

16,005 / 50,000
(32.0%)

Chapter 13

It’s so fun playing with her. With them. It’s been so long since I’ve had an appreciative audience. She thinks she’s safe. She thinks they can catch me. I laugh at her. At the stupidity. I think I’ll keep her for a while before I kill her. Slice her skin off piece by piece as I record her screams for my music box. I play it before I sleep. Such sweet music my girls make. But they must be perfected. Must be taught as I was taught.

With blood and tears. With pain. With the drill and the nail and the screeching sounds that never cease. The pain that invades the points of your eyes. The pain that covers the world in a haze of red, purple, and yellow. Pain is the only teacher. Suffering the only text. Thus you will learn the will, the purpose.

She thinks she knows. She thinks she’s so damn smart. She only goes where I lead her. She only does what I want. That boy though. He worries me. He could change things. I can’t have that. Can’t have him filling her head with thoughts. I will have to do something about him eventually. I don’t like to play with the boys. Too ugly and they never understand. The girls do. Ahhhh my pretties. My doll babies. I love you all.

Time to show the bitch just what she’s dealing with. No more pretty trinkets, no more presents for her highness. This game is for keeps, not for children.

Little girls should be afraid to go out at night.

I watch her and laugh.

Chapter 14

Lesk turned the television on as she rose, hoping some Captain Crunch was left for breakfast.

The television was flashing an Amber Alert. She watched as a newscaster came on and announced another local girl was missing. Her name was Glory. Glory Stewart. He said she attended the local high school but Lesk couldn’t remember her. Her picture flashed on the screen. She looked like that shy girl who always sang in the school choir. Lesk thought she had such a beautiful voice, like an angel.

She felt a heaviness in her stomach. She knew he’d gotten her. That girl was dead. She’d suffered for it too. And she’d never done anything to deserve it. Lesk remembered they’d had a conversation or two. Sweet girl. She blushed like crazy when a boy looked at her.

Lesk felt like sobbing. Just breaking down. That girl. She wasn’t friends with her but she knew her. Knew her as a decent person. She still remembered that one concert she’d gone to at school. She’d closed her eyes and felt calm, peaceful. For that one moment she felt as everyone else must feel. She hadn’t known how much she’d valued that until now.

She squeezed her hands into fists, so angry she wanted to smash something. She was sorry she’d had to go to school today. It was going to be more horrible than usual.

The halls were silent. The girls huddling together in circles, whispering furtively. The boys standing near, silent. They had no idea what to do. It was as if they had all suddenly been dropped into a horror movie and no one remembered the plot.

Lesk hunched over, trying to get through the day. Just get through it.

She hoped they found the body soon. She didn’t want her to be alone for long. She couldn’t stand the though of her left in the woods somewhere. Alone and cold. She pressed her hand over her eyes.

“Sick isn’t it L?” She looked up at Samaj, tears in her eyes. She leaned into his chest.

“Yeah. We have to find the sick fuck Sam. We have to.”

“Awwww... the Freak found a boyfriend. Isn’t that cute! You have to put a bag on her head to bang her?”

Dave the Barbarian she thought. Just what she needed.

Sam patted her on the back, surepitciously putting his foot out for Dave to trip on. He went down, hitting the nearby lockers.

“Little Fucker! I’ll kill you!” Dave went for Samaj, his big burly arms extended. Sam ducked but Dave got him in the arm. He fell and Dave went to kick him in the head.

Lesk screamed and ran up to him, kicking him firmly in the crotch.

“Don’t touch my friend asshole!”

He squealed like a pig and went down. A felled oak. Lesk was breathing hard as she helped Samaj up and they ran.

They got as far as the big tree out back before they collapsed. Lesk lay under the branches, breathing hard.

“You okay Sam?”

Samaj giggled. His giggles turned into a belly laugh.

“Damn girl, I’m never fighting your ass. Scary. Ninja like even.”

Lesk giggled.

“My dad taught me that. He told me to kick them where they hurt and hard. I’m so sorry to drag you into that. He would have never hurt you if you hadn’t been with me.”

“Nah. The guy’s an ass. My mom will probably give me grief when they call her about this.”

“Sucks. I’ll go home with you and explain okay?”

Samaj sat up and looked her in the eyes. “You don’t have to do that. You shouldn’t have to live with people treating you like that. It was worth it to show the dick he can’t hurt people that way.”

“Sam, it’s probably only getting worse from here. I humiliated him in front of everyone. He’s gunning for me now.”

“Shit. Hey. I just had a thought. Sadist, knows all the victims, young white male. An unhealthy obsession with tormenting you. He’s a good suspect for murder isn’t he?”

“Murder? I know Dave’s an ass but . . . killing all those girls? I dunno.“

“Worth investigating though isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Yeah Sam, that was a good idea. Maybe your Nancy Drew?”

Samaj rolled his eyes.

“Matlock?” She laughed. “Columbo?”

“Okay okay. You can be Baretta. Only forget the bird.”

“Cool.”

They stayed there until lunch. Samaj decided to walk home then and Lesk went with him. She wasn’t looking forward to explaining the fight to his parents, but Samaj deserved it. She wanted to help him. She still couldn’t quite believe he’d defended her. That she’d defended herself for once.

She knew Dave would never leave her alone. People like him never did. They just kept at her like a bull seeing a red dress. She knew how to deal with him next time though. He’d never walk over her like he had before again. Every time she saw his face she’d remember his expression when she’d kicked him in the crotch. Then she’d laugh. Right in his face.

His father was home, cooking something that looked like white cardboard. He saw her look and told her it was tofu.

“I don’t particularly like it but mother is on a bender about healthy food. I say healthy food is fine if it tastes good. Trying out a new recipe for tofu burgers. Now what brings you kids home from school so early?”

Samaj told him about the fight. “The principle is probably gonna call you about me dad. Just sayin’”

Lesk told his dad that is was all her fault. Then described what had happened. He let out a shouting laugh when she got to the part where she’d kicked Dave.

“Your pappa taught you well. Now I don’t see as where I’d have a problem with you kids defending yourselves from a bully. If the man calls I’ll tell him so. Now go on and play. You can taste my tofu burgers later. I’ll tell mother it was your punishment.” He winked at them.

They turned on the television for the news. Lesk peered at the screen as the news guy told them the girl still hadn’t been found.

He’s still playing with her she thought, wincing.

Samaj figured they could break in to the school database and find out about Dave.

“Sam that’s illegal!”

“Dude, it’s cool. I’m telling you I’m good at this. Won’t take a minute and no one will ever know. Just let the Sam Man handle it.”

“Fiiiiiine.”

His fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing faster and faster. Lesk went to get some ice scream, stumbling back in when he let out his victory shout.

“Got it! You know they should really have more security for this shit. Any criminal could just break in and go crazy.”

“Yeah.” Samaj rolled his eyes at her look.

“Let’s see. Dave. Last name starts with an R, right?”

“Yah.”

“He’s had a couple of warnings on his record. Fights. One incident of cheating on a test. Something else here. It looks like they tried to hide it under the firewall. I can get it. I think.”

His lips pursed and he started typing again.

“Ha! Little bugger. See. There it is. He was accused of sexual harassment. Nasty too. Freshman girl a year or so ago. I think I remember hearing something about it. His dad got him off and the chick had to leave town or something. What a jackass.”

“But sexual harassment doesn’t equate to murder, Sam.”

“That’s true. But it shows a sign of deviant behavior. Maybe we could search the court records for any police stuff. Like killing dogs or anything.”

“He’s a juvenile though. Would it even be on his record?”

“I’ll just have to work my magic. Any electronic seal can be removed. Plus we can question the neighbors. See if they remember him as a child.”

“Hmmm.. sounds okay Sam. Just hope we don’t get into any trouble for this.”

“You only live once sugar. Let’s go down to the court records and see what we find.”

“I think it would work better if we got Fox.”

Samaj went silent. Lesk put her arm around his chair.

“Stop frowning! I just want to get him ‘cause his dad’s the DA right? We’d have an easier time getting records with him. He could say his dad needed them. And he’d bound to know at least someone down there.”

Samaj nodded and she called Fox on his cell phone. Thank god for modern communication she thought.

She let the phone ring for a while, knowing Fox was probably in class. You were supposed to turn your phones off in school but no one ever did.

“Hello?”

“Fox?”

“Lesk? Lesk. Sorry I wasn’t there for you earlier. They had to send Dave to the nurses office. They said he was crying like a baby.” She heard the smile in his voice.

Lesk snorted, then covered her mouth. “Really?”

“Yeah. So what did you need?”

“Sam and I think Dave might be a viable suspect. He’s violent, sadistic, and we found some stuff on his school record that looks really suspicious. We want to go down to the clerk of courts and see if we can find anything on his record. Like animal abuse or anything violent.”

“I dunno Lesk. I can’t see Dave doing such horrible things.”

“But you can help me?”

“Yeah. I guess I can meet you after class. Coach’l be mad at me but this is important.”

“‘K. See you then.”

Samaj stood next to her. “So Captain Studly is coming?”

“Sam.”

“Okay okay. So er . . Fox is coming right?”

“Yeah. He’ll meet us after school. He thinks he can get someone at the clerk of court to help.”

“Cool. Wanna play video games until then?”

“No Donkey Kong.”

“Damn.”

chapter 12

2005-11-08T02:13:34Z

14,032 / 50,000
(28.1%)

Lagging a bit. >_< Starting to get the middle slumps.

Chapter 12

They searched through the musty magazine section of the library, looking for anything mentioning SPO. They found one tiny article in the local section of the town’s business newspaper.

SPO is the new phenom in synthetic honey, opening right here in our city! It’s owner is local wunderkind, Thomas Malorie. Together with a top team of biochemists and scientists he hopes to corner the market on bio engineered synthetic honey.

“Our honey will not only contain vitamins and minerals but it will also help buffer your immune system. This will be an engineered food, for the good of all mankind.” says Malorie, pictured here with his research and development department.

“It’s never good when they break out the old ‘for the good of all mankind’. Didn’t Hitler use that line?” Samaj said, leaning over the article.

Lesk squinted at the picture. The lady in back looked familiar, as if she should know her from somewhere but she couldn’t quite place it. I’ll remember a month from now she thought. Isn’t that just the way?

Fox sat backwards on the chair, itching his chin.

“But how do we get in? And why would synthetic honey have anything at all to do with it? I think this might be a wild goose chase.”

Lesk sighed, he sounded right. This all looked like a stupid errand. A stupid errand that was all her idea.

Samaj paced. “Okay, so it may be a dead end. But why would you find the pin there? Right near where he’d have dragged the body? It has to be connected in some way. We have to get in there.”

Lesk had an idea of how they could convince the people at SPO to let them take a tour.
“Fox, your on at the school newspaper right?”

“Yeah. Assistant editor.”

“I say we call and ask for a tour. For the school newspaper. It could work, especially if we put a nice slant on it.”

“That’s brilliant!” Samaj said. Fox said it was cool too so they agreed he’d call them and ask for a tour. They drove home and planned the next move. Samaj said they should get some ‘nerd’ disguises for the tour.

“Pocket protectors! Big thick glasses! It’s gonna be so awesome.”

Lesk ignored him and turned up the radio.

“I’ll make a call to SPO tomorrow. Hopefully we can set up the tour for Thursday since it’s the only day next week when I don’t have swim practice. Is that cool?” Fox said.

“Fine with me. Sam?”

“Totally. But I’m wearing my pocket protector.”

“Okay Sam. But no glasses.”

Sam smiled and accelerated. Lesk rolled the window down, letting the wind blow through her hair. A secret spy mission she thought. How ridiculous.

They dropped her off on her street and she walked the rest of the way home. She fumbled with her key at the door and it opened before she could get to it. Her mother stood at the front, all but frothing at the mouth.

“Your school called. You didn’t go today did you?! Were you hanging out with boys? I can’t believe I raised such a little slut.”

“It’s not like that!”

“Look at your face! What else would they want?!”

“He’s my friend. It’s not like that mother.”

“I don’t care what you say. And Dr. Ethlinn called. You missed your appointment again. If you don’t stop that they might just put your ass back there.”

“No! I don’t need him. I’m not going back there ever again!” She screamed, pushing back her mother to get to her room. She locked it tight, her mother pounded on the door.

Once a month they did this, screaming at each other because they couldn’t communicate any other way. She felt the love she’d once had with her mother had long since dried up, like a corn husk.

She lay back in bed, her headphones on. She picked the angriest CD she had and went to sleep to it, not knowing if it was the music pounding in her ears so hard or her mother at the door.

She dreamed again of the Wolf. He chased her this time, sharp teeth nipping at her heels. She had to do something she thought. Something he wanted her to do. He chased her down, his teeth digging into her shoulders. She touched his head, tickling his ears the way he liked. He licked her nose, blowing feral breath into her face.

“What do I need to do? How can I finish it all?”

He shook his head, raindrops fell onto her face. They glowed golden. So pretty she thought. She awoke with a smile on her face and thanked the Wolf. She always had good dreams when he appeared. She checked to make sure the door was still locked and shut. She had a fear of that, of someone coming into her room as she slept.

At the White Prison they’d always come in, any time day or night. For inspections they said. She thought it was to drive her crazy. No privacy ever. Nothing but exposure in that white room. The people with white coats always staring. Not content with what you gave them, they wanted inside. Wanted to steal your soul and make it over.

She rarely dreamed of that place but when she did all she could see was white. That color mocked her with it’s blank stare, it’s simplicity. She used to hallucinate when she saw white, the shadows moving inside it’s skin.

chapter 10-11

2005-11-07T04:27:47Z

13,082 / 50,000
(26.2%)

Chapter 10

Her mother was in the living room when she’d arrived home. Her ‘friends’ were there as well. Lesk counted four bottles of empty vodka on the living room table. Her mother had her arm around a young man, whispering in his ear and giggling. Lesk squinted at him. He looked familiar.

Fox. Was it that Fox guy? With her MOM?! People went to jail for that sort of thing she thought. She closed the front door and he looked up. His eyes held a panicky sheen.

She thought about walking onward, ignoring the guy. He was a big boy. He could take care of himself right?

He’d stood up to the Barbarian. She owed him. She sighed, pasted a bright smile on her face, and went into her living room.

Her mother’s two best friends, drunk old birds, were sitting on the couch next to her mother. They both had tall glasses in their hands, giggling madly. Lesk parted her hair behind her head, revealing the scars. Her mother’s weakness. She couldn’t stand the sight of them, sober or drunk. She coughed and her mother looked up from Fox. She spotted Lesk and winced.

“Hi Fox!”

He looked up, relief in every pore of his skin. “Hi Lesk. Um.. I dropped by to see you but you were um.. gone. So your mom invited me to stay and um... yeah. Still here. Waiting.” He got up, gently extracting himself from her mother’s wine red talons.

Her mother didn’t say anything. She stared at the scars like you’d stare at a rattlesnake. Her friends drank. Still giggling. Talking of nothing and everything. Fox was staring too, Lesk tried not to flinch at that. She hated being the center of attention. Lights on. Nowhere to hide.

Lesk motioned towards the hall.

“We can talk in my room Fox.”

He followed. Once she’d shut the door, he leaned against it in relief.

“Man, your mom. Your mom is . . “

“I know. She has that effect. That special something if you will. Next time just run.” Lesk blushed as soon as she’d said it. She’d implied it was a given that there would be a next time.

“Yeah. I’ll remember that.”

“What did you come for?” Lesk couldn’t remember ever talking to him other than that one time. She’d never told him where she lived but in their small town it wasn’t especially hard to find out.

He put his hands in his pockets, nervously running his hands through his dark hair. He walked towards the window, looking out at the street below.

“Fox?”

“The first girl. She was my girlfriend. My first girlfriend.”

She could see his chest rise and fall faster. His girlfriend? The girl with the crooked tooth was his girlfriend? She sat on the bed, stunned. Though no one talked to her at school she couldn’t believe she’d never heard this.

“You must have been a suspect then.” She blurted. Forensic Files again. The one you love is always the first one they point to. Love being the other side of hate.

He was still looking at the window, as if he couldn’t quite look her in the eyes.

“Yeah. They came to me first. As if I’d ever think about hurting a hair on her head, let alone actually do it. I loved her. I loved her! I kept screaming at them that I loved her. They kept asking those questions. Did we fight? Did I ever hit her? Fucking cops. My dad made them leave me alone eventually, but they left me sobbing in that room for a while. Soften me up they said.”

His dad was the DA. Of course they’d let him go she thought.

He pounded the windowsill. Harder. And harder. Lesk could see his shoulders shaking. She sat on the bed, her arms around her knees. Please do not let him be crying. Please.

He turned around, his eyes full but not overflowing.

“Why did you come here? Why are you telling me this?” Lesk was genuinely puzzled. They had no relationship. Literally no relationship except for some varied looks in the halls of school. Yet here he was, pouring his heart out to her as if she were his very best friend in the world.

“I heard you talking to that skater guy. About the murders. How you’ve found clues the police haven’t. I want in.”

“I don’t know what you heard Fox but . . .”

He held her shoulders, looking straight into her eyes.

“Please. I want in. I can’t forget about Suz. I can’t forget about her or forgive the bastard who did it. I want him. Please let me help.”

It was hard for Lesk to look him in the eyes, hard to see the naked pain there.

“Fine. Okay. You can help. But don’t get in the way.”

“Sure. Whatever. Thank you. Thank you so much.” He tried to hug her but backed off as she stiffened up.

“Look, Sam and I are ditching school and going over to St. Martins Friday. I think a company there might hold a clue. You can come I guess. Just meet me at the end of the street around nine a.m. Friday. Okay?”

“Okay.” He looked as though he wanted to stay but Lesk had had enough of talking. Fox seemed too willing to put everything out there. To find comfort wherever he could. Lesk could not offer that. Ever.

“I’ve gotta go to bed Fox. See you Friday.”

He smiled, thanked her again, and left. Lesk followed him out, protecting him from the dragons. She escorted him safely out, went back to her room.

Locked the door. Tight. She lay back in her bed, wondering if he’d revealed everything to her. The reason the police always questioned the ones closest to you first was because if you were murdered, they were the most likely to have done it.

Mr. Fox might have more than one motive to be involved in any investigation.

Chapter 11

Samaj gave her the wet eye when she told him Fox was coming.

“The swim team dude?”

“Yeah. The first girl who . . died was his girlfriend. He wanted to help and I umm..”

“You are such a sucker. But that’s twisted. I never heard anything.”

“Is it cool? He seemed like he really needed to help. To have something to do. I just sorta offered withought asking you.”

“Nah. He’s had to have been through some shit. We should let him come. As long as you don’t love him more than me.” He leered at her but Lesk could see a vulnerability in his eyes. She knew how he felt. When you had so few people to connect to, it was hard to let go. You felt a great gaping fear. Just the thought of losing one of your treasures made you feel like that golum thing from The Lord of the Rings. My preciooouuusse.

“Sam, you’re my friend. My best friend. Actually, my one friend. I can tell you truthfully I will never be best friends with him. I can’t even conceive of being a close friend to him. I don’t know Fox but he needed help so I offered. He’s a decent guy and I want to help him if I can.”

Samaj looked down. She touched his shoulder.

“You’re my main bitch, ya know?” She smiled at him.

He smiled back. She knew he understood. They’d both been through things that were so horrible that they’d never talk about it. They understood each other in a way few could.

“S’ cool. ‘Cause you’re my main bitch too.” He touched her hand and for once she didn’t mind.

They got in the car, off to meet Fox.

Fox was standing on the corner, a blue windbreaker on. It was cold out and windy. His dark hair danced in the wind. Lesk thought he looked so Heathcliffian. Quick, where’s the cringing Victorian maiden? Not here. She smiled at him through the window of the car.

He got in the back door. The car felt awkward now. The mix off somehow. Fox nodded at Samaj, that peculiar teen boy nod that was a cross between a cromagnum grunt and an Arthurian salute.

“S’up.”

“S’up. Thanks again for letting me come Lesk. So what exactly are we doing in Martins?”

“I found something near where the first . . victim’s body.”

She saw him flinch when she said victim.

“I think it’s connected to a company called SPO. It was based there. We’re going to do some research at the company and probably at the library.”

“SPO?”

“Yeah, they make synthetic honey.”

“Honey? What would that have to do with murder?”

“I don’t know. But it’s a clue.”

Samaj wasn’t talking. Lesk surreptitiously patted him on the arm. He turned on the radio to the local college station. They were playing Arcade Fire. Lesk thought it quite appropriate to listen to on the long drive over.

St. Martins was bigger. Much bigger than her town. She liked it. The anonymity of it all. She could walk for a day and never see a soul she knew. She had dreams where she was alone with lights surrounding her. She could see and feel everything but nothing touched her. She liked those dreams best.

Lesk fumbled for the map she’d printed on the computer. “I think it’s like a mile down there. And then you turn right. Or is that left?” She twisted the paper around.

Fox and Samaj looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. She scowled at them.

“You better not say it monkeys.”

Samaj laughed and handed the map to Fox.

“Just tell me where I’m going please. Before we have to break out the compass.”

Lesk bashed him over the head with an empty soda can but left Fox alone as he guided them to the building. It wasn’t particularly imposing, a long squat building. Every inch was covered with shiny chrome. And it was surrounded by a large gate guarded by men in uniforms.

They drove past. Samaj asked “How do we get in? There’s some serious iron on those guys.”

“Why would a honey corporation need so much security?”

Fox leaned over. “Well we can’t go in now. I’m not up for playing super spies and neither are you.”

Lesk thought for a minute. They could go barreling in there with no plan whatsoever. Probably get arrested and find out nothing. She sighed. “Okay, let’s go down to the clerk of courts. I think it’s right by the library. We can check the stuff they applied for. Permits and stuff. We can do some research and try to find out more. Then we’ll come up with a plan on how to get in there.”

“Cool.” Samaj turned his car around, heading downtown.

“We can be super librarians. You can be the Bond girl.” He laughed at her.

“Super Duper” Fox interjected. Then slapped hands with Samaj.

“I knew you had a sense of humor somewhere dude.”

“You are both monkeys. Now shut up and drive. Don’t make me get out the angry stick.”

“She will, you know. The angry stick is FIERCE.” Samaj said, grinning.

They got to the library a little later. Lesk thought it grand. One of those incredibly old stone buildings, the letters on the front were worn. It was missing the L so it just said ‘Public library’.

‘Cool’ she thought. Samaj parked next to it and they went in. An old old woman sat at the desk out front. Lesk wondered if the woman’s bones creaked when she walked, if her skin was like old map paper. Her hair was steel gray, perched up in a bun that wound high up in the air. She half expected to see little birds nested in it’s warmth.

They started towards the magazine room. Lesk knew you could search through the local papers there. They often had them categorized by subjects as well.

“Once more into the breech dear friends! Once more into the cold caverns of the Morlocks!” Samaj yelled. Lesk frantically tried to shush him as the old lady glared at him. Fox was walking ahead, obviously trying to distance himself from the chaos. Lesk looked at him enviously as she tugged on Samaj’s shirt.

“I can’t take you anywhere Sam!”

“Take me! Oh take me!”

Lesk put her hand over his mouth and dragged him towards the room. He licked her hand and she giggled.

“That tickles... eww! Spit! You are so gross.” Lesk wiped her hand on her shirt and left him. He followed her begging for forgiveness.

She’d forgive him. Eventually.

chapter 9

2005-11-06T05:58:58Z

10,781 / 50,000
(21.6%)

Didn't quite make my quota today but I'll make it up tomorrow.

Lesk lied in wait for Samaj as school ended. She wanted to see if he’d let her come over to his house and use his computer. Samaj had almost every kind of gadget at his house. Blenders and video games. Like five computers. It was a treasure trove for a technophile. Lesk usually stayed away from vast quantities of electrical things because she had a fear of lightening and electricity. All she needed was to be burned and scarred.

She grabbed his arm as he was exiting, and laughing at what the boy next to him was saying.

She smiled at that. The boy was always laughing. Always had a cheerful demeanor about him. He was wearing long sleeves again. To hide the scars. Lesk thought maybe his smile was like her hair, covering something up.

His friend goggled at him as she yanked him away.

“Wait! Too rough! Be gentle my lady and I shall give you anything. I will be your slave! Order me around!” He went down on one knee, entreating her with his arms out.

Lesk looked around. The kids were all staring. Shit. She jerked him up.

“Come on slave boy. Come on.”

“Whatever my lady commands.” He bowed and followed her.

“Okay so can I borrow your computer? I have something I want to check out. Please?”

“Cool. We gotta do our homework and such first. Dad demands it. He’s a tyrant. He might make you into curry or something if you impede my acquiring of the knowledge.”

“Sam. Sam, I think you may have lost your mind.”

“Nope. Sugar rush. They served those nifty little donuts in the caf today. Oh donuts. How I love thee. Let me count the sprinkles on thine surface.”

“No more sugar for you, guy.”

“Sugar Nazi!”

Lesk grunted, pulling her hoodie over her head.

“Then we play D&D. I’m a cleric! Level 13! You can be the naked nymph.” Lesk swatted him on the head. He laughed.

“Okay okay. Just kidding. I’m actually level 18!”

Lesk chased him home, trying to pelt him with objects she picked up on the ground.

Level 18. She laughed and threw an empty slurpie cup at him.

His parents weren’t home. His mom was still at work and his dad left a note in the kitchen that he went to get cooking ‘supplies’. Lesk rounded her eyes at Samaj.

“No more curry I promise.” He held his hand out in a boy scout salute.

His computer was in the room next to his. The whole room was taken over by various gadgets and computers. His had stickers and writing on it. Pictures of animals and scribbles like ‘Samaj rules!’.

He sat at the computer and she stood next to him, pointing at the writing.

“You so totally do.”

“That’s right. All the ladies eventually realize that. My greatness is unsurpassed.”

Lesk rolled her eyes at the back of his head.

“I saw that.”

She fingered the pin in her pocket. She’d cleaned it and polished it some. It was still incredibly rusted. The letters still spelled ‘SPO’. What was it? A company? What did they do?

Samaj entered it into a search engine. The first couple of matches were duds. The next looked like something. A synthetic honey production company. Honey? What did honey have to do with murder?

It had opened three years ago. It looked like it was located in St. Martins, that town was familiar to Lesk. It was a good ways away from their town, but still close enough to travel to.

Lesk had no idea how it was connected, but it was a clue. The only one they had.

Samaj agreed to go with her Friday. They’d ditch school. Samaj said his dad was cool with him taking ‘personal’ days every now and again. As long as it wasn’t too often.

“Sam. I really appreciate you helping me. You are a great guy. Thanks.”

Samaj blushed. “Come on now. I have nothing better to do than squire a young madam around. Plus I love a good mystery. I’ve got my very own Nancy Drew.”

“Nancy Drew? Sam, you read too many books.”

Lesk left, taking some old lasagna home with her.

chapter 7-8

2005-11-05T00:54:39Z

10,060 / 50,000
(20.1%)

Chapter 7

Sunday was Lesk’s absolute favorite day. For one reason; Our Lady of St. John Church. Oh yes, the joy. It was a Charismatic Christian denomination. Very odd services. They made for the best times Lesk had ever had in her town.

The pastor was a little creeped out by her but he’d offered to let her run the lights and special effects from the top booth. It was an easy job and she got paid enough to buy books and thrift store clothes. The rest she saved for the big move. You needed money for bus trips and stuff.

She sat in the booth at the very top of the church. It was a beautiful sight. The church was the tallest building in town, it’s ceiling elegantly pointy. Stained glass adorned all of the walls, showing scenes of penance, punishment, and love.

That wasn’t the best part though. The best part came at the very end of the sermon. The exorcisms. Lesk brought popcorn and watched the incredible sight. People screaming, crawling, stomping on the ground. All the while the pastor held the bible up, yelling at the demon to come out. Punishing the imp of Satan with his booming voice. And when it was done, they all sat back with a sigh of relief. The devil had been defeated.

More and more people had started appearing after the killings. As if the pastor had the secret to it all. They were safe in this house of fire and brimstone.

She’d even seen Miss Augusta, sitting in the back row, her head down.

I see you. I see you right there she thought, feeling as though she knew secrets about these people they’d never told a soul. It was a connection to a population that never wanted a connection to her.

The pastor had tried to make her join for a couple of Sundays. She politely declined.

It was one thing to watch, quite another to actually be there. She felt sure she might have one of those demons inside her. In the night she felt something moving under her skin, her scars. A rolling, wet movement. If she touched it with her hand she felt a vibration, almost like a hum.

Mostly she dismissed these as hallucinations. Something left over from the crazy house. Around the second month there she’d become convinced she was an animal. That her skin would split like a ripe melon and she would be disappear. Replaced with a wolf or a dove. She’d see reflections of the animal when she looked in the mirror, her eyes shining like glass.

She smashed the mirrors. Every one. She destroyed any reflective surface and uses the sharp edges to carve into her skin the images she’d seen in the mirrors.

They moved her to the room then. The room that smelled of mothballs and had walls of scratchy cotton. She’d rub her face on those walls. Rub until her skin was raw and she’d manage to draw beads of blood from it.

Those friendly walls. Lesk would sit, satisfied, after she’d drawn the blood. Watching as the hot red liquid ran down her skin like water. Only thicker. When she felt an animal she would raise that blood to her lips, drinking in the metallic taste like elixir.

Then came the straps. More drugs. She felt it quite likely that she’d gone completely insane. Her self lost in that other. That animal self.

Yet it was the animal that eventually saved her. The wolf, licking her wounds. Promising secrets and dark places to hide in. It calmed her, made her serene.

She talked to it when she was alone. It rarely spoke to her in sentences. She got images, feelings. Of hope. Of the end of the Suffering and the end of the White Room.

Once she accepted the wolf, the dove came. Showed her that to fight the men in White coats was to die. To end her life here, insane, naked, screaming.

Her nightmare alive and real. Full technicolor.

So she’d listened. She’d listened and she’d gotten better. As she’d gotten better the wolf and dove receded. She missed them so much at first. Spending nights in her bed, keening in despair. But she’d known that they hadn’t left her completely. She’d feel the scars on her face, the bumps rolling and humming under her skin, and know. If she truly needed them they would be there.

So she watched the exorcisms. Convinced the animals were somehow demons. Not really caring though. They helped her. Helped her still. If they were demons then they were better friends than anyone had ever been to her. She would hold them close even closer. Even closer.

She thought she would need him. For when it came for her. And she knew the killer would come for her. Only a matter of time.

She watched the rest of the service, leaning foward for the last part. The best part. They screeched, cried, rocked, rolled, ran, and were saved. She envied them that.

Chapter 8

Lesk walked home from the church. The exorcisms had run long so it was dark. She put her hands in her coat, the night chilly. She shivered, goose bumps raising along her arms and back.

Freaky. This was the only thing about Sunday she hated. The walk home was long and she had to walk through the old cemetery to get home. The tombs were cracked, the letters long since faded. No one visited these relics, the bones were gone, the dirt hard and brown. Nothing seemed to grow there either. Nothing. She’d often wondered why there were no flowers, no tokens of respect at all. It was puzzling. Surely a great niece or great grandchild lived somewhere in the town. The odds against anyone anywhere not knowing or remembering any of these people were large.

It depressed her, these relics. These symbols of death and decay. No one to remember. To care. They could have been great people, kind people. Now they were just faded letters, crumbling rock.

She’d wished for death so often. But seeing it in this form, seeing the sheer neglect. Not such a great fate after all. If she died right now she’d want someone to remember her. She wanted to matter.

She thought her father might visit her grave. Samaj too. Maybe her mother as well. But she didn’t want to think of her mother and death. She did too much of that as it was.

Her house was dark too. The only light on was the faint porch light. The yellow shadow on the front step. Someone needed to change the lightbulb.

Lesk stepped in the dark house, turning the hall light on as she did so. Her mother’s room was dark again, the distant sounds of some old Joplin record floating under the door.

Her mother like to fall asleep to Janis. Janis the lonely, the whiskey soaked queen of the blues. Lesk felt her mother and Janis had a connection. But then that was probably a bad thing.

She went into the kitchen, her stomach throwing hunger pains at her. She felt a headache coming on. She knew better than to skip meals, it threw her whole system out of wack. The fridge was empty, a sad banana sat on the middle shelf. She’d have eaten it but the brown tinge had spread to over half the thing.

Super gross. It has mold on it. Green mold. Lesk shut the fridge and the ugly little fruit out of sight. She could stand everything but the color green in her food. No lettuce. Or those green beans. Broccoli. Yuck.

She settled for some dry cereal. Captain Crunch. He was so the man, all peppy and happy with his little hat on.

“Just you and me tonight Captain. Bon appetite my friend.” She toasted the box with her class of cola. Chewed. She liked the crunch of the Captain. The pieces moving around in her mouth. Ships at sea she thought then winced. My imagination is really running away from me tonight.

She washed the dishes, ever neat and tidy. Her room could be a mess but not the kitchen. If you didn’t clean the kitchen mold would grow. Insidious mold, ready to take over any moist place it could find. Mold was such a tool.

She went to her room feeling weighed down. So tired. Achy. Got into her favorite pajamas, the red riding hood ones.

Whose afraid of the big bad wolf? Not me. Not me.

She saw it leaning on her bed. The square. Wooden square. That should not be there. That should not be there. She really really wanted to leave the room. If it wasn’t her room she thought she would. It was her’s. Her sanctuary. Her retreat from the world. She could no more leave that thing, that evil thing, in her room than anything.

What is it? Another picture? Warning? Threat? She screwed her eyes shut, hoping against hope that there was no blood. Please no blood. Anything but blood. She could imagine it. The girl with the crooked smile. Bashed, bleeding, dead. Something missing. He always took something didn’t he? Always something missing. Shit.

Her hand shaking, she touched it. Jerked her hand back. Then touched it again. She grasped it firmly, the steel of the frame digging into her hand.

Turned it over. Jesus. The horror of it. The fucking horror she thought. It was a mirror. In a picture frame. She could see herself in it. Her face. Ugly. So ugly. Something was written on it. In red. Red that ran, that rippled as ink should not. Blood?

I KNOW. WHO YOU ARE. WHAT YOU ARE. I KNOW. YOU CANNOT HIDE. YOU CANNOT RUN. I WILL FIND YOU. YOU WILL FACE JUSTICE.

She closed her eyes, a tear leaking from the left side, the scarred side. So long since she’d seen it. Her face. Her horrid horrid face. She threw the frame against the wall, as hard as she could.

Bastard had been in her room again. Her sanctuary. She sat on the bed, rocking and shaking with fear. First thing tomorrow I’m going to the police. Blood. Whose was it. They can find out. Find the bastard. Then bars. Thick thick bars to keep the animal out. Keep him out. Gotta stay awake. Awake. Awake. Awake.

She could feel herself drifting. Couldn’t hold on. Darkness.

She woke up on her stomach, face buried in her pillow. Jumped up, looking around frantically to make sure she was still there, still in her room. Safe.

She looked over to where she’d hurled the frame. Nothing. Nothing there. Not a piece, not a shiny metal shaving. Just empty space.

Had she dreamed it? Was she going crazy? Again?

Lesk crawled to the wall, where she’d hurled the frame. Feeling around for something. That couldn’t have been a dream. Too real. She remembered it too clearly. She was not crazy. She couldn’t be.

She found it near the dresser, the corner. An impression. A cut in the wallpaper. Smoothed over, yet she could still see it. Where the frame had hit. Bastard made a mistake.

She sat there, running her fingers over it. Convincing herself it was real. She was not insane. She believed it.

But no one else would.

chapter 5-6

2005-11-04T02:41:25Z

8,058 / 50,000
(16.1%)

Chapter 5

She dreamed. Of sharp teeth. Dark spaces. Wolves gnawing in her flesh. She cried out, and was awoken by her own voice.

Lesk sat up in her bed, clutching the left side of her face. Her scarred side. It ached. Throbbed. She ran her fingers over the scars in the dark, searching for wetness.

Nothing.

It was pitch black in her room. The only light coming from under the door. A faint yellow light.

Something had to be wrong she thought. Mother?

She crept out of her bed, silently opening the door. The house was quiet, her naked feet making soft sounds on the wooden floor. Her mother’s door was closed. Nothing. No one.

Yet still Lesk felt something was off. Something. Something.

She rounded all the corners in the house, searching. Maybe the oven had been left on. Maybe the front door wasn’t locked. No. Everything seemed fine.

I must be losing it. Get a grip. Grip.

She went back to her room and started to get back into bed when she noticed a glint on her windowsill. She walked nearer. Nearer. She saw two pieces of what looked like paper turned over. Now where did they come from?

She touched the paper on one and turned it right side up. It was a picture of the first girl who had been murdered. She gasped, her heart accelerating.

Had he been here? In her house? In her room?

With shaking fingers she turned the other paper over. The second girl.

Lesk shook. She ripped the photos apart and threw them out her window. She locked the window and hid under her covers.

What does it mean? What does it mean? She was scared. If the serial killer had left those in her room . . . maybe she was next. Maybe it would be her face on the newspaper headline, the townspeople clucking over what a shame it was. She felt like sobbing. She felt like cutting herself again. That thin line of red appearing. Taking the pain away.

She breathed. Again. Like she’d been taught. Just get over this minute and the next would be better. Hold out for a little longer.

Then she got pissed. She didn’t care who the hell left those pictures. She wasn’t going to let them effect her. She decided tomorrow she would call Sam and see if he could borrow his parent’s car. She’d go ask some questions of her own. No one had the right to make her feel like this. To make people scared like this. She’d fine the killer. The police here seemed like idiots anyway. She was smarter than them.

And now she had a lot more invested.

Chapter 6

Samaj agreed to borrow the car. Lesk hadn’t exactly been honest about where they were going but she knew he was a mellow guy. She’d convince him somehow. She had him meet her on the corner so her mom wouldn’t see her get in his car. He wore a longsleeved black shirt with a white skull on the front. He’d added some temporary green streaks into his orange hair. They made Lesk laugh at him.

“You look like some macaroni and cheese. With mold!”

“Don’t be dissin’ my do. This will have all the ladies melting. Melting I tell you!” He stroked his spikes and pretended to admire himself in the side mirror of his car.

“So where we goin’ L? You sounded all mystery like on the phone. Gonna show me makeout point?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her as she stepped into the passenger seat.

“There is not makeout point here. Unless you count the garbage dump. And even teenagers aren’t desperate enough to go there to swap spit.”

“Ewww.. You are so the romantic darlin’.”

Lesk smiled nervously. “Well.. You see I.. Um.. I wanted to go to the woods there. Where they found the first girl. To look.”

“You don’t seem like the gawker type . . . morbid stuff your deal?”

“No. I think. I think the Freak guy may be after me. If it’s not him, it’s someone. I want to look. To see if maybe I can find him before he hurts me or someone else.”

“That sounds very weird. Really.Why do you think the Freak guy is after you? Besides the obvious.”

“What obvious?!”

“Well... this is a small town and there are only so many young teenage victims and such.”

“Oh.. Well I think he left something at my house for me. I think it was from him. So can we go please?”

“Okay, I guess so. It’s probably only a matter of time before he runs out of teenage girls and goes for the boys. I’m sure to be top on the list.”

“‘Cause your so pretty?”

“You got it.” He gunned the motor and they sped off. The first girl had been found in Spangler’s Woods. Her body left for the animals.

Lesk was glad he’d agreed. Glad he hadn’t told her she needed to report this to the police. She’d torn up the evidence and with her psyche record they’d think she was lying or that she’d gone crazy again . . maybe send her back. Never going back. Never.

He put on some Bob Marly, they sat in companionable silence, listening to the music. She tapped on the armrest and watched from the side window. The blues turned to green. The yellows to orange. Colors so vibrant they seemed alive.

Soon they had arrived at the scene. She saw the tattered evidence tape on the ground. The body had been left here she thought. Samaj got out and lit up a cigarette, trying to look anywhere but at where the body had been found.

“I’m just gonna look Sam. Just for a little bit. Then we can go home. Cool?”

He nodded at her. She was almost sorry she’d made him come. He had a real problem with death. In any form.

Come to think of it, so did she. This place reeked of fear and decay. She wanted to tell him she’d made a mistake. That they should forget all about it. She remembered the smile on the first girl’s face. So blond and perfect. But with a little crooked tooth in the front. That tooth bothered her. She shouldn’t be dead.

Lesk looked down at where all the tape was gathered.

“I’m sorry. Real sorry that he killed you. But I promise to try real hard to find him. I promise.” She whispered, feeling foolish.

She walked further along, where you could see dragging signs. He’d dragged the body there. Left it to rot. She felt a hatred well up. That he not only killed her, but brought her to this place. So her family couldn’t find her. She’d been alone. For weeks. Just lying here.

She followed the trail. To the river where it ended. He must have driven his car to the other side of the river, trusting that the water would muck up the investigation. Near a river like this, it was hard not to make footprints. So anything he’d left would have been destroyed if not by the animals, then by the well meaning people who’d searched for and found her.

Lesk walked a little further along the river. Searching for something. Any kind of thing that didn’t belong there. Just rocks and dirt and plants. She walked back towards the side of the river she came from and spotted something metallic in the bushes.

She crouched. Reached over and grabbed it. It was a pin. A metal pin in the shape of a bumblebee. The raised letters on the front spelled ‘SPO’.

SPO? Weird.

She pocketed it. It didn’t look like a clue to her but it was something that was out of place. And that SPO thing sounded like something she’d heard about before. Something important.

She heard a sound, a faint rustling in the bushes. Lesk jumped.

Probably nothing. But don’t they always return to the ‘scene of the crime’? Shit. Damn Forensic Files. She heard it again and took over. Paranoia or no paranoia she wasn’t sticking around to see if it was a fluffy bunny.

She stopped in front of Samaj, out of breath. He put his arm around her, placing her a little behind him.

“Yo, what’s wrong? You see something?”

Lesk looked back the way she came. At the squirrel. The squirrel. Was the squirrel laughing at her? She could swear it had a smirk on.

“Nothing, it was nothing. I want to go now please. Enough of the spooky woods for me.”

“Yeah. This place is off. Wanna go play Donkey Kong? I love that monkey.”

“Sure.”

“Or we can have a Paulie Shore marathon. I own every DVD! Plus the bootleg version of Biodome with full frontal nudity! Nudity!”

“Gross. Paulie Shore.”

“Come on Buuuuuuuudy? Please?”

“Well you did join me on the creepy death scene tour. I guess I can share something equally gruesome with you.”

“Sweet!” He jumped around, slapping a hand over his grin.

“But no Jury Duty.”

“But...”

“No!” She shuddered. Jury Duty.

chapter 3-4

2005-11-03T03:58:39Z

6,404 / 50,000
(12.8%)

Chapter 3

Stupid girls. So comforted by the fact that they were escorted everywhere. No one could touch a hair on their perfect heads. You think I can’t get you in your house? You think I can’t sneak in those perfect little places and snatch you right up? Burn you. Break you. Won’t be so pretty then will you? So perfect. PERFECT. PERFECT.

. . . I won’t rest until you are all dead you know. I won’t sleep. Won’t eat. Until you scream like I scream. Until you ache like I ache. Take what I want from you. What I need and then scrap the rest. You are all garbage. My garbage.

Then end is near. Nothing can save you from me. Nothing can break you like I can.

Little dolls. Little perfect dolls.

I watch you and laugh. How stupid you all are. How vapid. I erase that look when you spend some time with me. Erase it and replace it with something much more pleasant.

Die. Die. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE. DIE.

Chapter 4

Fall was depressing. The kids all jumping around. So happy, Christmas was just around the bend. Presents. Money. Candy. Oh yeah. The fun.

Except her mother despised Christmas. Last year she’d bought a tree so she could burn it down and leave it on the lawn as a message to all the neighbors. They’d had to move then.

Christmas was never her favorite holiday anyway. Now Easter. Candy, with none of that trick or treat crap. Food, fun, and you got to laugh at all the horrible clothes the parents shoved the children into. Pastel was a killer.

She remembered wearing a bright blue dress when she was a child, before her mother started painting her like a doll. She’d felt such joy flouncing around in it, throwing kisses to her father. She’d torn all her dresses up. Anything pretty or feminine was trashed or destroyed. She was left with the old scraps she’d saved and the occasional splurge from a thrift shop. Her mother thought she was punishing her by not buying new clothes. Dresses. Lesk was just happy that was one less part of her life to worry about.

It was almost fun washing her own clothes and hanging them on the washline out back. Except for the underwear. She secretly hid the granny panties in the cellar next to the one window. They dried slower than outside but the humiliation was ever so much less.

Today was Saturday, so thankfully no school today. There was a movie theater in town but it was the only hangout for the teenagers in the area so Lesk avoided it. Once in a while a particularly cool theater employee would show something like A Clockwork Orange or Easy Rider. They mostly showed kid fare there or old movies from the 50s. No cursing, nudity, or anything like that. Lesk found it funny that Bambie was showing on the screen there when the first girl was killed.

Poor deer. She knew how he felt.

She had avoided the skater kid, Samaj, yesterday. Kinda felt bad about that but thought it was better not to risk things. She didn’t want to go back to that White Prison. She never wanted to go back. They still had her on some medication. To regulate her moods. Mostly she flushed it. Medication was for the weak. She didn’t need it to get by.

The park was a good bet on a weekday. Too many kiddies on Saturday. She really wanted to stay home and hibernate in her room but her mom was still there. Avoidance was key. Key. If she could just avoid her mom for the next year or two. With the booze her mom slept all day anyway so it wasn’t hard.

Her dad had eventually gotten quite a good job so he sent enough money to support them every month. Which meant her mother had no need to work. So the boss wouldn’t call when she was late, when she missed a week, when she walked in hung over. Nobody called.

Lesk walked to the local book store. It was tiny and smelled of old honey and musk. It had some great old books and hardly anyone ever shopped there. Lesk wondered how the lady who owned it kept it open all week. No customers equaled no money which was bad for business. She was glad it was open though. She walked through the shelves, waved at the old guy taking a nap behind the register. She dragged her hand along the spines, smiling at the dust that followed her hand. Candy store. The gold edges of the books shined against the dark covers. The shelves were tall. Easily eight feet. Lesk stepped on the ladder and walked up to the highest step. She could see old guy drooling a little in his sleep, a faded copy of a Clancy book draped over his arm. She picked up a book on fairies.

This would be good for her new comic. She was having trouble coming up with the wings. Something filmy, but that you could see through. She looked through the book, coughing at the dust. The pictures were fabulous. The colors vivid. She ran her fingers over the wings of one. Pretty.

Most of the books were cheap so she’d brought a little money. She left five near the sleeping old man and left the building. Walking towards the center of town she saw a boy skating near the benches around the small fountain. The board was bright yellow.

Samaj.

Lesk ducked, tried to hide behind the café. He’d already seen her, and was walking towards the café, his board cradled in his arms.

“Yo, Tree Girl! Missed you Friday! I brought my book and everything.” His smile was wide, his orange hair a beacon under the sun. Lesk stood from one foot to the other, wondering what to do. What to do. Stay. Go. Run screaming,

She saw the scars again. Shit. She knew where he’d been. She knew where he was probably going if he stayed in this town.

So she took a chance. She’d try this time. Maybe for the last time. But school was long and this town was small.

“Sorry!” She coughed, cleared her throat. “Yeah, sorry Samaj. I just got caught up with stuff. You know?”

His smile faded but didn’t disappear. “It’s cool. I know. So you wanna try to skateboard? It’s fun. We could go back to my house and look at my artbook after or something?”

“Sure. But skateboarding? I’m not that good with the hand eye coordination. I tend to fall. A lot. And cry. A lot.”

He laughed and she noticed he had one of those disk things in his right ear. Must be painful.

“Just try okay? It’ll be cool. I promise.” He went to take her arm and she jumped. He reached over his board as if he hadn’t meant to do that. Message received. She still had some problems with touch. It felt so odd to be touched, almost painful.

He put the board down and showed her how to get on it, a flip there, a roll there. Lesk put the book down and gingerly got onto the bright piece. She held her arms out like a bird and pushed off. She felt like she was flying. Flying! She giggled and pushed harder. Faster. She saw Samaj mouthing something but laughed and went faster and faster. The board flipped and she was upside down. She hit the pavement. Hard. Her head hurt but even the pain felt good. Reminded her that she was alive. That she was there.

She opened her eyes and Samaj was looking down at her, his eyes concerned. She heard something something ‘okay?’.

“Yeah Samaj. I’m okay. Just crashed is all.”

“That was a big crash. I don’t think I’ve ever crashed that bad. Wicked cool. You sure you aren’t hurt?”

Lesk felt the back of her head. There was a lump, but she didn’t feel any wetness.

“Told you. I’m okay. Still want me to look at your art?” She leaned up, accepting Samaj’s hand as he helped her to stand. He took it back quickly, picked up the board.

“Sure L, my mom is out but my dad should be home. I think he’s making curry for dinner. Hot!”

Lesk remembered the one time she’d had the spicy meal. “Yeah. Hot.”

His house wasn’t far from her’s. It was a good walk though. They talked about school. How stupid the other kids were. How small the town was. Samaj told her he was from California. His dad had invented some sort of super paper clip and they struck it rich. His mom decided to move them to a small town for the quality of life. Samaj thought she’d used that as an excuse. She really just wanted to get him away from his friends. From what Lesk heard he must have been having some problems. The scars told their own story. She knew he’d seen her looking but she didn’t ask.

She wouldn’t ask about his and he wouldn’t ask about her’s.

She showed him the book she’d bought and he proclaimed it Bitchin’.

Bitchin’. Good word.

His house was big. Much bigger than her’s. They had a huge lawn and a little house in front. He called it a ‘Guest House’. She told him it looked more like a ‘Slave House’. They walked in the front door, a strong smell assaulting them.

“Dad started the curry! Cool! I am so starved. Want some?” He ran towards the white door near the back of the house. Lesk followed, holding the fairy book tightly.

The kitchen was big, like the rest of the house. The surface covered in shiny metal. A short man with a shock of white hair stood near the stove, stirring a black pot.

Samaj was hugging the man, trying to sneak a bite of the food in the pot.

“Samaj. It’s not ready yet! Now stand back my lad! Introduce me to your new girlfriend! Where’d you get such a pretty girl!” He smiled, wrinkles appearing in his broad face.

She smiled back. She liked that he’d said ‘pretty’ withought irony. “Oh.. Mr. West. I’m not his..”

Samaj laughed. “He’s just teasing you L! Dad’s a kidder.”

“Oh. Umm.. Okay.” Lesk smiled, not knowing what else to say.

Mr. West walked over and gave her the same hug he’d given his son. It felt okay. Warm. Lesk thought it was like the hugs her father used to give before. Secure.

“Dinner is not ready yet young people! Why don’t you go in the living room and play. Samaj has one of those newfangled arcade machines. Very expensive but he plays it like a zombie.”

He pointed them towards the living room.

Samaj told her not to worry about his father. He liked to tease but he was mostly harmless. They found the system and Lesk spent the rest of the hour beating Samaj shamelessly.

“Hey, girls aren’t supposed to be this good at video games. Didn’t your mother ever tell you it’s not attractive to beat boys?!” He fell back laughing.

“My mother never told me anything about boys... oh wait did you mean the think about kicking them in the ..?” She laughed at his expression.

Never remember having this much fun before. Cool. Very cool. Lesk thought, happy for a little while.

He showed her his artbook. She told him he needed to work on his perspective but she liked his lines. He drew teenage boys in tragic conditions, having to make hard decisions. She thought they were good. They talked about collaborating on something. Something epic.

They ate curry and Lesk drank copious amounts of milk to kill the fire, her nose turning red as Mr. West and Samaj giggled at her.

When she left Samaj offered to walk her home but she refused. Her mother wouldn’t like seeing her come home with a boy. Especially this boy. Mr. West told her to come back any time.

She just might.

chapter 2

2005-11-02T01:16:29Z

still meeting my goals. o_0 I might actually finish.

4,357 / 50,000
(8.7%)

Chapter 2

Lesk walked home, grateful that the basket ball team was having practice that day. The streets were strangely silent these days. It was because of the murders. Parents picked up their kids instead of letting them walk home. She lived in a small town. An old town, but a small one. Two teenage girls had been killed months away from each other. The police hadn’t released too many details but Lesk had heard that the deaths were particularly gruesome. Like Lector gory. She shuddered just thinking about it. They’d happened after she and her mom had moved into town. But by then the mortgage was set up and they couldn’t leave. In her Mom’s world nothing like that ever happened to little girls. Must be a nice world she thought.

Lesk took the long way home, walking near the grade school so she could watch the kids play. Anything you wanted to know about society you could learn on a grade school playground. The little chubby girl was clutching the monkey bars, crying, as she was pelted by dirt. A little dark haired boy with glasses stood near her. Watching, but unwilling to help. No, that would turn the herd in a different direction. The very perky blond girl was watching as well. But you could tell she was the ringleader. She was handing out the dirt. It might be funny, something to write in your diary later. Lesk would bet the little chubby girl would remember it for years.

She walked a little faster, eager to escape. Her house was not that far away. She’d like to get in a game of Super Mario Brothers in before dinner. Then she’d catch the last chapters of Catcher in the Rye. See how her old pal Holden made it out. She hoped he never went back home. The sister would be so disappointed but in the long run she was better off.

The lights were all on. Bad sign. Her mother must have left the comfort of her room for the living room. Where the damn trophies were. The symbol of her lost perfection. Too many pageants to count. Too many titles, tiaras. Her mother sometimes forgot it was Lesk who had won them. She’d seen her wearing some of the flashier tiaras around, red lipstick smudged over her mouth like a bloodstain.

Better just walk on by. When her mother started down memory lane it was never a pleasant thing to be around. It was all Lesk could do to keep going down that lane herself.

The library wasn’t too far from her house and they stayed open late. Lesk decided to head there. Burying herself among the stacks of musty books, hiding behind the creaky bookshelves. It was old, like everything else in the town. It held a surprising amount of current books though. Books on ancient civilizations. Greek myths. The chick with the snake hair was a favorite.

All of the librarians there were cool. They knew her by now and would leave her alone as she scanned the bookshelves for something interesting to peruse. She picked the Aztecs, in the mood for some bloody history. All that progress paid for with the blood of it’s people.

It was an hour or two before she could tear herself away from the fascinating Aztecs to finish the Catcher in the Rye. Disappointing. She much preferred his short stories.

It was dark by the time she left the library, the streets dead.

She felt jumpy, her skin sensitive. The shadows whispered to her, followed her.

Getting paranoid here. Really paranoid.

She knew it was probably nothing but increased her pace anyway. Home, home on the range. Where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the ... shit what was that? Stupid town. Stupid small town.

It was probably nothing she thought, but started running anyway. The descriptions of the murdered teens flashing through her head. Blood, removal of body parts. Jesus, please don’t let them find me naked in the street.

She ran into a brick wall. A brick wall that smelled like chlorine. She lifted her hand to her face and felt wetness. Water? She looked up. Then up. The Fox. He must have just come back from swimming practice. Did they even have it this late? Must be dedicated.

Lesk backed up a step or two, careful to keep her hair over the left side of her face.

“So you can’t say hello or anything? Huh?” His voice was deep, pleasant. She thought his eyes looked kind. A weird color they were. Goldish yellow.

“Yes. Hello. And umm.. Thank you for today. That was decent.”

He didn’t say anything for a couple of seconds until she raised her eyes to look at his. He had those little wrinkles people get in the corners. She’d heard he worked at his uncles farm in the summers. Sun damage she thought. It must be where he got that tan skin as well.

He shrugged. “That guy is an ass. I think he must like you or something to treat you like that.”

“Oh please, then I’d hate to think what he’d be like with a real hate on.” She snorted.

Fox smiled, his teeth glinting under the streetlight. “Just forget him. You want me to walk you home? Never can tell with the Freak out there.”

The freak?

“Dude, the serial killer? The news is calling him the Freak ‘cause he takes the body parts? Right?”

“Yeah. Right. Morbid.”

“I’m real interested in that stuff. Got this collection of serial killer memorabilia at home. You can come look if you’d like sometime? Yeah?” He turned the puppy dog eyes on her. With the yellow glint, she thought they looked like a wolf’s eyes.

“Sure. Sometime. I gotta get home. Um.. my mom’s expecting me. See you tomorrow.” Lesk said. Fox was weirding her out. She’d been at that school for three months and he’d yet to say a word to her. Now suddenly he was everywhere she went. Weird.

The lights were still on at home. Damn it. Her mother must have bought more booze. It always kept her up like this.

She gingerly pried open the door. Abba’s ‘Dancing Queen’ belted out. Her mother was in the living room. The ‘trophy’ room. Dancing.

Just walk past her. Maybe she won’t notice. Maybe she won’t notice. Maybe she won’t

“HEY! WHERYOU BIN? WHERYOU BIN? BITCH! ALL MYYYYYY HARD WORK WAST’D WAST’D! UGLY! UGLLLLLLLYYYYYY!”

Her mother raged, spit flying from her mouth, her eyes bloodshot. Lesk thought she’d never seen a more frightening sight than her mother on a bender. She ran, slammed her door shut. Locked the door and the deadbolt she’d bought when they’d moved in. Her mother pounded. Pounded. Pounded. Screamed. Pounded. Lesk started up her game system, put on the headphones she’d plugged in. The little Italian jumped. And ran. Killed the evil dinosaur guy. Cool.

She played for an hour and when she took off the headphones it was quiet. Maybe she passed out as usual. Maybe she died of alcohol poisoning. Or was impaled on a bloody tiara. Lesk thought the last one was most appropriate.

She thought back to when it had all started. Remembered her father. He was a big guy. Fat but cool. She remembered climbing on his shoulders. Feeling as if she ruled the world. Her own private monster killer.

Until her mother had found out about him. He was addicted. To internet porn. Had hundreds of thousands of images saved on his hard drive and kept getting more. Her mother tried to get him to stop. To go into therapy. He couldn’t stop. He lost his job. They lost the house. And Lesk lost him. Her mother got full custody in the divorce. Even got the judge to deny visitation because he couldn’t pay child support.

She missed him so much. So much that she clung to her mother in case she left as well. She’d do anything her mother asked her. When her mother started dressing her up and training her for the pageants she went along. It was so fun at first. Dressing up, parading around for judges. Then she won. And won. And won. So many badges, sashes, tiaras, trophies. They had to empty out a whole room to keep them all.

It became an obligation. It became torture. Sweating. Watching the old men leer at her in her pretty pink dress. Dance lessons, singing lessons, acting lessons, modeling lessons. Lessons and lessons. Practice and practice. It got to the point where she’d forget what her naked face felt like. Her stage fright was paralyzing. Her mother wouldn’t listen to a word she’d said.

”Quit? Do you realize how many girls would give anything to take your place?” Her mother said, taking a long drag off of her cigarette. “You are on top here. Now. You can’t give up. You’re the Princess. The Queen. Go on out there and make me proud. No more talk about quitting okay?”

Her mother gave her pills to get over the stage fright. They numbed her. At eleven years old she was addicted to Xanax. At twelve she decided to kill herself. Took a butcher knife from the kitchen. Into the bathroom. She remembered looking in the mirror, despising her face. Slicing with her right hand. Slicing. Slicing. Blacking out and coming too in the hospital. Her face wrapped in bandages. Concerned Doctor. Nice Doctor. So many questions that she couldn’t answer. Wouldn’t answer. Her mother never saying anything. The Doctor telling her he couldn’t fix Lesk. Too much damage.

Too
much
damage.

They’d put her in the psyche ward then. White walls. Doctors with empty eyes. Always asking why. Why? Why? Why? Why?

I don’t know. I don’t know. Idon’tknow Idon’tknow Idon’tknow Idon’tknow Idon’tknow Idon’tknow Idon’tknow Idon’tknow. I DON’T KNOW!

Drugs. Drugs to kill her pain. To kill her. They kept her sedated for a year. She kept trying to slice her face off. To destroy it.

Gradually she’d gotten better. She was older. Knew the only way to get out of that prison of White was to be better. So she was better.

Took her off the pills. The lovely lovely pills and injections. Miss those. I do.

But she felt better off of them. Clearer. Cleaner. They let her leave then. To live with her mother. Which was bad, but so much better than the White rooms. The White Prison.

Now she was here. In a different prison. But one whose time was limited. Once she hit eighteen she was gone from here. From this town. These people. Her mother.

She wanted to look for her father. See if he was still the monster killer she remembered him as. She had some new monsters for him.